Baksh to be inducted into HoF

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/07/2019 (2506 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As a young boy growing up in Trinidad, where cricket is the national sport, Charles Showkat Baksh began playing the game with his older brothers and local village friends and neighbours.

He was captain of his elementary and high school teams and represented the South Trinidad Youth Team in 1957 and 1958, and captained the 1959 South Trinidad Youth Team vs. North Trinidad.
Baksh immigrated to Canada and is proud to have lived in Winnipeg for the past 60 years. Since then he has been involved in cricket at the local, provincial, national, and international levels against teams from England, Australia, Denmark and in the historic World Cup team 1979 in England vs. Pakistan and Australia.

In addition to being a player, Baksh also supported the Manitoba Cricket Association by serving briefly on the board. He provided leadership and support for his local team, serving as president, treasurer and captain for many years.

That lifelong passion and commitment for the sport will see Baksh honoured later this year, as one of seven athletes inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

“The sport of cricket, like other sports, has helped me learn important lessons of developing friendships, leadership qualities, communication skills, listening, humility, unselfishness — how to manage success as well as failures. In Trinidad it gave me opportunities for employment — as young talented cricketers were being scouted to play for specific adult teams,” said the Westwood resident, adding that he values and maintains the many local and international friendships he’s made along the way.

“The induction into the Sports Hall of Fame reflects all these special elements of sportsmanship and gives me great pleasure in reflecting upon the many opportunities and success which I was fortunate to achieve,” said the 81-year-old, who retired from cricket but still golfs at a competitive senior level.

The six other individuals to be inducted are Susanne Dandenault, (athlete), athletics/weightlifting; Don Hornby (builder), rowing; Jon Montgomery (athlete), skeleton; Maureen Orchard (builder), basketball/wheelchair basketball; Michelle Stilwell (athlete), wheelchair sport; Hector Vergara (builder), soccer; and team dynasty 1987/1988/1989 Brandon University Bobcats (team), basketball.
This year’s induction ceremonies mark 40 years of the annual event.

“This is a remarkable and well-deserving slate of inductees,” said Jason Treloar, chair of the board of directors for the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. “They embody the kind of perseverance and excellence that our sport community commends and is inspired by, and that is exactly why we are grateful to have them become a part of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.”

The ceremonies will be held at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg on Nov. 2, 2019. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 1.