Fidel Edwards’ Hampshire contract cancelled for 2020
Caribbean Life, August 7, 2020 29
By Nelson A. King
West Indies fast bowler
Fidel Edwards’ career with
the English County club
Hampshire looks set to be
over after he decided not
to play for the club this
year, according to the British
Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC).
Hampshire and the
37-year-old have mutually
decided he will not return
because of the Covid-19 pandemic,
reported the BBC on
Friday.
It said changes to the status
of Kolpak players in 2021
mean he is unlikely to resign.
The club says if he does
not return next season, they
will host a testimonial match
to recognize his five years at
the Ageas Bowl, according to
the BBC.
“Circumstances have conspired
against a return for
Fidel and, sadly, it may be
that he has played his last
game for the club,” said
Hampshire director of cricket
Giles White on the club’s
website.
“We will miss him in every
way,” he added. “He’s been a
great team mate and a wonderful
performer, and we all
look forward to welcoming
Fidel back next year to pay
tribute to his outstanding
contribution to the club.”
Having taken 45 wickets
at an average of 20.80 in
his debut season, the BBC
said Edwards missed much
of the 2016 campaign with a
broken ankle.
He took 33 wickets in
2017, 54 in 2018 and 48 last
season, including four fivewicket
hauls.
“It’s a bit sad that my
Hampshire career looks to
be ending in these circumstances,
during the pandemic,
but there is a lot to celebrate
and remember from
my days at Hampshire,”
said Edwards, who played
55 Tests and 50 One-Day
Internationals for the West
Indies.
“I hope this isn’t it for
me and county cricket,” he
added. “But for now, I am
proud to have pulled on the
Hampshire shirt and look
forward to returning for my
testimonial match in 2021.”
Hampshire’s Fidel Edwards celebrates the wicket of Somerset’s Tom Abell during the Royal
London One-Day Cup Final at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, Britain on May 25, 2019.
Action Images / Paul Childs, File