Former West Indies test cricketer, Omari Banks, who brought much pride toAnguillaand the rest of the region when he was selected to play with the team on the international scene, has left the sport to begin a career in music.
Omari, who announced his formal resignation from cricket at a press conference at the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday this week, said that a few days ago he released a song entitled “Move On”. “My plan is to go into the music industry as a career and that is what I have been working on for the past six or seven months,” he said.
He has recorded two songs inJamaicafor an album due to be released in a couple of weeks. He also did two other songs now being released in singles. One of them, as stated above, is “Move On” and the other is “Oh Africa.”
Referring to his just-ended cricketing career, Omari said in part: “It has been a good journey for me. It has been a joy actually and cricket was a passion for me since I was a child. The dream of playing for theWest Indieswas one for me ever since I took up a cricket bat.”
Omari was particularly grateful to Cardigan Connor for his support and encouragement over the years, and he paid special tribute to his family for their assistance in many ways. He encouraged his former local cricketing colleagues to continue their involvement in cricket, to remain focused and to seek to gain further experience in the sport abroad.
Cardigan Connor said if he were to choose, for another 20 years, one individual whom a coach would want to work with it, that person would be Omari again who was special to him and someone of much respect. “He gave me the greatest opportunity that I was looking for to find an individual with a desire to succeed,” Connor recalled. “Coming back to Anguilla and being involved in youth cricket development, it was important that I found some success and the best example possible was when Omari Banks made theWest IndiesTeam… It was an absolute pleasure being associated with him.”
Deputy Director of Sports, Rollins Richardson, said he too had been involved with Omari from an early age. He said Omari’s success was due to his passion for the game and his efforts to reach the top. He was grateful to Cardigan Connor who was a role model over the years to the island’s young cricketers. “When Omari made the West Indies Team it was a very historic moment for all Anguillians and possibly for the region,”Richardsonstated. “Coming from a very small island, likeAnguilla, no one thought that we could get there at that point in time. But Omari did it for us and I believe he has paved the way for many other Anguillian cricketers.”
Val Banks, former West Indies Cricket Board Vice President, and Omari’s uncle, said his nephew had been a very dedicated cricketer who started out very young. He stated that he had been able to surmount many challenges as he was a very strong person with a strong faith in God, himself and family, which had guided his life.
“Omari has made all of us and Anguilla proud as well as the people of theCaribbean,” he added. “His decision at this point and time to move on, reflects the fact that he is a confident young man and recognises that life is not just about cricket, but about family, doing what makes you happy, satisfied and comfortable. He has never been afraid to take on challenges. That is the type of person he is and I am very proud to be his uncle and to have played some part in his development, and I wish him all the best.”
The press conference was arranged by KCN Television and coordinated by Linden Swaving,Producer of the company’s Morning Show.
