It has been a disappointing Christmas season for West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, who has had to buy new cricket gear after his cricket bag did not arrive in Australia when it did.
Hosein, who traveled to Australia on December 10 to sign a contract with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League T20 competition, is still waiting for the situation to be resolved but said his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Hosein explained that he traveled from Trinidad to Miami and then from Miami to Los Angeles on American Airlines and then traveled from LA to Melbourne via United Airlines.
However, when the West Indies white-ball player arrived in Australia, he took only his suitcase but not his cricket gear.
“I have my suitcase here but my cricket bag is the most important because obviously I’m on a tour and I would definitely need my personal equipment to go out and perform as well as I can,” said Hosein.
“Playing in a tournament with new equipment is always going to be a challenge compared to having your own equipment,” he added.
While he made a complaint “it fell on deaf ears”.
“My problem is that the bag was found 24 hours after my complaint. American Airlines knows the bag is in Miami in their baggage area, but so far, the situation has not been rectified,” Hosein said.
Hosein’s Big Bash debut was on December 15, five days after he landed in Melbourne. Since then he has had to buy new equipment.
It’s been 20 days since Hosein touched down in Australia and despite his luggage issues, he has managed to do well in his debut season Down Under.
He has played five matches so far in the Big Bash and is among the top five wicket takers in the tournament with ten scalps.
Hosein will be in action today for the Renegades against the Sydney Sixers.
