Latest news with #Caribbeans
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shubman Gill for Asia Cup may look tempting, but it could severely backfire on Team India in more ways than one
Shubman Gill is riding the crest of a wave. His transformation from an understandably nervy first-time Test captain to an authoritative leader by the end of the five-match showdown in England was evident, helped by the fact that he amassed more runs in a series (754) by an Indian skipper than ever before. Pallekele, Jul 27 (ANI): India's Shubman Gill plays a shot during the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka(BCCI - X) But does that necessarily mean that he should be an automatic choice for the T20 Asia Cup, beginning in Dubai on September 9? In India, more than anywhere else, the temptation to use performances in one format to buttress prospects in another is all too prevalent. This is not to say that Gill is not a terrific T20 player; it's just that under the circumstances, the 25-year-old will be better off shouldering the responsibilities of the Test side and bide his time when it comes to the 20-over format. In six months, India will begin the defence of their T20 World Cup title, at home. This timeframe is generally considered the ideal period to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to say -- to apply finishing touches and zero in on the 15 best suited to mount that defence. It's that endeavour that chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir will embark on, starting from the Asia Cup. The international retirements from the shortest format in June last year after the World Cup was secured in Bridgetown of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had thrown up lacunae at the top of the order, which seemed to have been filled by Gill, in his avatar as skipper, and Yashasvi Jaiswal on the tour of Zimbabwe last July. But neither man has played in India's last three series – their last outings were in Pallekele late last July – during which time Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have done precious little wrong at the top of the order. T20 cricket encourages multi-skilled players, which Samson, as designated wicketkeeper and Abhishek, who fuses left-handed batting brilliance with competent left-arm spin, most certainly are. Gill is a specialist batter, which alone shouldn't rule him out. One of the overwhelming arguments against Gill featuring in the Asia Cup must be the proximity of India's home Test series against West Indies, their first engagement as hosts in the latest cycle of the World Test Championship, to the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup final is on September 28, the first of two Tests against the Caribbeans begins in Ahmedabad on October 2. Assuming India make the final – and it is under that basic assumption that the campaign will be mounted – the turnaround time between the desert adventure and the Test series is miniscule to non-existent. The switch between formats won't be to anyone's advantage, least of all Gill, as India attempt to make the most of back-to-back home showdowns (they play South Africa in two Tests in November) to climb up the WTC points table. Overflowing with options In any case, India are spoilt for choices. It will be unfair on Samson and Abhishek if they are nudged out just to accommodate Gill (and/or Jaiswal). Abhishek, 24, hammered 279 runs at a ludicrous strike-rate of 219.68 in India's last assignment, a five-match series against England, and his last T20I innings yielded 135 (off 54 deliveries) at the Wankhede. Samson didn't have a great run against Jos Buttler's side but smashed three centuries in the five innings leading up to the England series. They have formed a terrific left-right combination that has hit the right notes in the last several months, and deserve by right the chance to build on their gains as India finetune their preparations for the World Cup. India's top order is an embarrassment of riches, Suryakumar Yadav's loss of form after being entrusted with captaincy duties no more than a temporary blip. Tilak Varma is in the form of his life and between them, they appear to have locked the No. 3 and No. 4 slots. It's difficult to see Gill, whose 578 runs in 21 T20Is have come at a strike-rate of 139.27, displacing either of these two established names, which implies that for now, it will be in everyone's interests if he is allowed to concentrate on trying to take a Test team in transition forwards. Between the two home Test series, India travel to Australia for a white-ball faceoff that too Gill is most likely to miss for obvious reasons. If they manage to set sentiment and recency bias aside, the primary decision-makers will recognise the wisdom of allowing Gill to settle into his role as Test boss and revisit their T20I options after their marquee clash against WTC champs South Africa.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Minority Franchise Owners Thrive At Golden Krust
Golden Krust, which has 105 locations, with 103 of them franchised. Pictured its new Miramar, Fl location. Courtesy of Golden Krust In 2024 the trade publication Franchise Journal reported that 30% of all franchised restaurants are owned by minorities. Hence, many minorities find that opening a franchised restaurant can lead to success and attaining the American Dream through hard work and diligence. For example, at one Jamaican restaurant chain, Golden Krust, minority ownership has reached impressive heights, explains its CEO Jacqueline Hawthorne-Robinson. Founded in 1989 by her dad, Lowell Hawthorne and his 10 siblings, Golden Krust started on Gunhill Road in the Bronx and opened its first franchised location in Brooklyn in 1997. Over the next 36 years, it has grown to 105 Golden Krust restaurants in 8 states, mostly in the Northeast like N.Y, N.J. and Ct. but also in Tx. Ga, and N.C. In fact, 43 of the 105 locations are in New York City. Of its 105 locations, 2 are company-owned and 103 franchised. And of its franchised locations, 98% of them are owned by minority owners and 80% of them by Jamaican Americans. Indeed 25% of them own multiple locations. Minority Locations Lead To Minority Franchisees The reasons why so many minorities have been attracted to opening a franchise is multi-faceted. Many franchisees of Golden Krust become familiar with it by eating there or living in the neighborhood. She adds that many of its locations are in working-class or poorer neighborhoods where more minorities and Caribbeans reside. Knowing The Neighborhood Is A Good Starting Point Hawthorne-Robinson explains, 'Success starts with understanding not just what you're serving but who you're serving it too. The best franchise owners know the rhythm of the community, when it moves, what it celebrates.' To Hawthorne-Robinson the fact that nearly all of its franchisees are minority members was a natural process, rather than a strategic approach. 'Many of our franchisees are Jamaican. Jamaicans know their Jamaican food,' she says and therefore are attracted to ownership, as are Black Americans too. She also says that knowing your customer leads to repeat business. 'Guests who feel a sense of belonging are more likely to return, especially when good food is paired with excellent service,' she notes. In fact, Hawthorne-Robinson asserts that their most successful franchisees 'treat their location as more than a business; it's a hub for connection, service and Caribbean pride.' Hence the ones who thrive are 'community-minded, operationally driven and culturally respectful,' she adds. Rigorous Training Is Critical Its training session for new franchisees is extremely rigorous. It includes 40 hours of classroom training at its corporate office, 80 hours of hands-on training in one of its certified training restaurants, and 40 hours of in-store training at the franchisee's restaurant. Its Most Popular Dishes Some of its most popular dishes include Jamaican beef patties as a quick bite, jerk chicken platters served with rice and beans, steamed vegetables and plantains, which she says are often large enough to be shared by two people, and braised oxtail, which she calls, juicy and succulent. New items include its Jamaican pepper shrimp and in the fall, jerk chicken pasta. Its large jerk chicken combo with a beverage costs about $19 and its oxtail platter under $29. Delivery revenue has been on the upswing and now registers around 20% of its annual revenue. Most stores average about 1,5000 to 2,000 square feet but those in cities like NYC can be smaller. Hawthorne-Robinson says its locations fit into a 'bustling urban corridor, a suburban shopping center or near a major travel hub.' Since so many minority franchisees own multiple locations, 'They're creating wealth for themselves at the same time they're building up our brand,' she explains. Last year it opened 5 locations, and she's hoping that it will add 5 more by end of 2025, though so far 2 have opened including one at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens. Hawthorne-Robinson gravitates between Atlanta and NYC, and its main manufacturing plant is located in the South Bronx, not far from where it all started. In the coming year, Hawthorne-Robinson would like to add up to 15 locations and increase locations at Atlanta and Florida airports, move into more school systems, and diversify more of its franchisees. Asked the keys to its sustained success, she replies: 1) Staying true to who we are, 2) Spreading the Jamaican culture into as many neighborhoods as we can, 3) Transforming ourselves into a national enterprise.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Center to Host First-Ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in Minnesota
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The We Are Liberian organization, in partnership with the City of Brooklyn Center, proudly announces the first-ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in Minnesota, set for Saturday, July 26, 2025. This historic event marks 35 years since Liberians first began arriving in the state following the civil war. Minnesota is home to one of the largest Liberian populations in the United States. This long-anticipated parade will celebrate the cultural pride, contributions, and resilience of Liberians, Africans in the diaspora, Caribbeans, and other ethnic groups that call Minnesota home. The parade will begin at 11:00 AM on Shingle Creek Parkway, leading into a full day of festivities at Centennial Park in Brooklyn Center. Attendees can expect: Cultural dancers and traditional attire Community organizations and local leaders Live performances and artists Over 70 vendors, food trucks, and family entertainment "For a long time, I didn't see myself represented," says Marie Dweh, founder of We Are Liberian, who grew up in Brooklyn Center. "I felt too American at home, and too Liberian at school. But over time, I watched more and more Liberians walk into my classrooms. Today, that same generation is becoming the teachers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and politicians shaping our future. This parade is a tribute to that journey." The event is expected to draw thousands from across the Midwest, marking a milestone not only for Brooklyn Center, but for Minnesota — now a cultural hub for the Liberian and greater African diaspora communities. EVENT DETAILS:What: First-Ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in MinnesotaWhen: Saturday, July 26, 2025 | Parade begins at 11:00 AMWhere: Shingle Creek Pkwy → Centennial Park, Brooklyn Center, MNWho: Hosted by We Are Liberian in partnership with the City of Brooklyn Center To learn more or get involved: Media Contact:Joshua PorteCreators Island Agency(612) 470-2408396637@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE We Are Liberian Sign in to access your portfolio
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Nicholas Pooran's international retirement at 29, a wake-up call that must not be ignored
The cricket world has been rocked in the last five weeks by a string of high-profile retirements, by superstars of different vintages from different formats of the game. It started with Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, pulling the plug on his Test career on May 7, five days before his predecessor, the talismanic Virat Kohli, followed suit. Their decisions weren't completely unexpected though when they were formalised, there was a touch of the sudden, leaving a huge gap in Indian cricket. These were followed by Glenn Maxwell bidding adieu to One-Day International cricket so that he could channel his energies towards the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year, and South African stumper Heinrich Klaasen walking away from white-ball formats internationally – he had already retired from Tests – within a few hours of each other. Rohit is 38, Kohli will turn 37 in November; both had long runs in Test cricket. Kohli earned his Test cap in June 2011 while Rohit's maiden appearance came in November 2013. The 36-year-old Maxwell played 149 ODIs and Klaasen, 33, represented South Africa 122 times in all three formats combined. Especially in the case of Rohit, Kohli and the injury-ravaged Maxwell, you could see where they were coming from. Klaasen was more of a surprise, though he explained his stance a couple of days back when he said, 'I felt for a long time that I didn't really care about any of my performances and whether the team won or not. That's the wrong place to be. I wasn't enjoying it that much.' Joining Klaasen now in the list of former internationals – Rohit and Kohli are still available for ODIs, Maxwell for T20Is – is Nicholas Pooran, the extraordinarily gifted left-hander from Trinidad who set the first half of IPL 2025 alight with his sensational ball-striking for Lucknow Super Giants. What makes Pooran's call staggering is that he is only 29; since first playing for West Indies in September 2016, he has earned 61 ODI caps and played in 106 T20Is. He is the highest scorer for the Caribbeans in T20Is, with 2,275 runs at a strike-rate of 136.39, has captained the team previously and was expected to be one of its bulwarks going forward at least in that format – he hasn't played an ODI since July 2023, when West Indies were dumped out of the ODI World Cup qualification tournament and missed the tournament for the first time since its inception in 1975. Pooran's unexpected move has sent shock waves through the cricket world, reinforcing the hold of the various 20-over franchise-based leagues mushrooming around the globe and weaning away wonderful talent from the country vs country landscape. The vice-like grip of these leagues isn't a figment of anyone's imagination or a monster perceived. It's neither the fault of the tournaments, provided they are stringently vetted and monitored, nor of the players whose shelf-life is limited and for whom cricket is a means of livelihood. If an individual chooses to prioritise playing leagues as opposed to representing their country for various reasons, that choice must be respected because the easiest thing is to sit on the outside, without being involved directly and without being aware of the ground realities, and pass moral judgements that often involve the words 'greedy' and 'mercenary'. Especially when it comes to the West Indies, the chequered recent history between the officialdom and players can't be overlooked. There was a period when the administration was so disassociated from the players that several established and promising personnel walked away without a second glance, disillusioned that they didn't find the support commensurate to the effort they put in to elevate the stocks of a proud cricketing entity that has now fallen on hard times. South Africa have grappled with issues of their own, especially when it comes to the composition of their squads and their commitment to righting the wrongs of the past. The exodus of South Africans to England and other parts of the world to chase their cricketing aspirations is well documented, though to ascribe these same triggers to Klaasen's decision will be a little far-fetched. While the easier option is to point the finger of blame at the players and their 'greed,' the bigger question that needs to be asked is whether cricket boards are doing enough to keep the players' fervour to play for their country burning bright. It's all fine to invoke pride and patriotism, but without sounding disrespectful, that alone doesn't put food on the table. Pooran's exit isn't the end of the story; it could just be the tip of the iceberg and, therefore, should be viewed with the gravity that every wake-up demands.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Caribbean-Americans share culture with Springfield community during heritage month
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – It's National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and the community is sharing their culture with the city of Springfield. When it comes to Caribbean culture, celebration looks a lot like a carnival. With vibrant colors and music, it's the way they choose to express themselves. 'And that's what makes us really unique, the blended culture that we inherited,' said Andrew Sharpe, Chairman of the Authentic Caribbean Foundation. 'Both from Africa and Europe, and we created our own.' Rep. Ramos proposes bill for red light cameras in Mass. Springfield came together to celebrate National Caribbean Heritage Month, with local leaders showing their support at the steps of City Hall. A flag-raising was held to honor the Caribbean community across the region. Music and dancing is a big part of Caribbean culture, and they plan to bring that to Springfield in the coming weeks. This includes the Moko Jumbie, also known as a traditional dancer on stilts. 'In terms of representing Moko Jumbie, which is one aspect of our folklore culture,' Sharpe said. Across the Caribbean from east to west, the Moko Jumbie is celebrated. Groups like the Authentic Caribbean Foundation want this tradition to reach western Massachusetts. 'That spirit of fun and enjoyment is some of the things we bring to this nation as well,' said Curt Marcellin, Committee Chair for Caribbean Heritage Month. Outside of Boston, Springfield and Holyoke are home to a growing population of Caribbeans. The celebration will continue through August, when the African Community Festival will take place on August 8 in Springfield. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
