One-handed catch, big dreams – 15-year-old Wazim Ali eyes WI U19 selection

Coming like a meteorite from outer space, the cricket ball tore through the night sky during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) clash between the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and St Lucia Kings, swerving with the kind of speed that could make even the most trained hands hesitate.
Yet, amid the loud roars of a jam-packed stadium and thousands of eyes fixed on the game, 15-year-old Wazim Ali found himself in exactly the right place at exactly the right time, with his elongated right hand rising to meet a ball that seemed almost impossible to catch.
The teenager has been playing cricket since he was just 12 years old, following a passion that was shared by someone very close to him – his now deceased father. He is the only child to parents, but now that the father is no longer in the picture, his mother continues to support his career goal despite the struggles.
In fact, his sights are set high on playing for the West Indies, and he plans to achieve that goal in the coming years. He made this distinct revelation during a telephone interview on Saturday to the Guyana Times.
“Yes, I have goals for the next five years. I want to play for the West Indies Under-19 team.”
Wazim recently lost his father to a terminal illness – a loss that has undoubtedly left an emptiness that words cannot easily fill. Yet, despite the grief, the teenager has found a way to make his father proud from above.
“When I was five years old, he was with me playing cricket. He trained me when I was five years old. And he got a bit old, so he couldn’t train me anymore. He must be really glad in heaven right now, watching over me.”
Despite the sudden attention surrounding his spectacular catch, there was hardly an ounce of pride or arrogance from the young man as he spoke about the experience.
Recalling the moment, Ali said he was amazed by what had happened. “I was very amazed when I took the catch. I always wanted the ball to come to me, so I was very calm when I caught the ball. And I showed it back to the player. It was an amazing feeling. Matthew Forde, who was by the boundary, gave me a smile and a thumbs-up and said, ‘Keep it up.’”
Ali is a right-arm spinner and right-arm middle-order batsman, making him an all-rounder. He has also been putting in considerable work during training, particularly on his catching.
And when he saw Quinton Sampson shaping up for the shot, Ali said he immediately realised the ball could be heading in his direction.
“I knew Sampson was going to capitalise on the ball that was thrown to him. At the time, I was sitting, so I saw the ball coming straight towards me, and I was saying, ‘Let the ball come to me.’ It was going towards the boundary, and beyond the boundary you have the rails with the advertising boards. I didn’t even know the advertising boards were so close. I just put out my hand, watched the ball into my hand and caught it.”
Since that heroic catch, Ali’s mother’s phone has been ringing off the hook, as the young cricketer finds himself thrust into a series of interviews and a new wave of attention.
For Ali, the sudden spotlight has been a memorable experience – and one he hopes will serve as a stepping stone in his cricketing journey.
“Yeah, the catching moment was a great, good moment. And everybody says that it’s a good step for me, so I have to take it and take my cricket far and reach far in cricket because they’ve given me a start.”
His friends and family have also been celebrating the remarkable moment. “Everybody, my friends and family, was so glad with the catch I made. They were so proud of me.”
And while social media has been buzzing with the youngster’s spectacular one-handed grab, the attention has also opened unexpected doors.
Famous chutney singer Mahendra Ramkellawan, with backing from the Clash of the Titans Chutney Show, saw potential in the young cricketer and offered him an opportunity to travel to Barbados.
“We see the opportunity to give this young guy a break. I mean, somehow or the other, going to the finals in Barbados so that persons can recognise him, it’s very important to see the talent in youngsters and see how you can assist them, whether financially or whatever way. I always look forward to that.”
Ali, in response, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the gesture.
Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana was also among those to recognise the teenager following his viral catch. Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs met with Wazim and his mother, Sumintra Ali, and presented the young cricketer with cricket gear and GAW apparel on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali.
The connection with Minister Jacobs carried added significance.
The surprises continued at Friday night’s CPL encounter between the GAW and the Trinbago Knight Riders at Providence, when Republic Bank invited Wazim to experience the action VIP-style from its booth.
There, he received G$100,000 to open a RightStart account and had the opportunity to meet international cricketer Glenn Phillips, himself renowned for producing extraordinary catches, as well as GAW Captain Imran Tahir.