BANGALORE: Sprint superstar Usain Bolt said on Tuesday he wanted to play cricket for Jamaica as a youngster but his father convinced him to take up track and field instead.

Bolt, the world’s fastest man, could have followed in the footsteps of Jamaican speedsters Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh, who struck fear into the hearts of batsmen while playing for the West Indies in the 1980s and 90s.

Asked on a promotional visit to India why he did not pursue his love of cricket, the six-time Olympic gold medallist replied:
“Blame it on my dad.

“My father is a huge cricket fan, but when I got to higher secondary, I had two options -- cricket or athletics,” he said.

“My dad said because of the system in Jamaica, it would be better to take up athletics. He said, ‘You just have to run fast in athletics while it’s tougher to get into the national [cricket] team’.”

Bolt, an ardent cricket fan, was in Bangalore to captain a seven-a-side team against one led by India’s cricket World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh.

The exhibition match, organised by both men’s sponsors, was staged in Bangalore.

Bolt, the world record holder in both the 100m and 200m, said his records at this stage were “pretty much out of reach”.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2014