The small, breezy grounds of Guyana are not known for being forgiving to young cricketers. The ball travels quickly to the boundary, local crowds can be demanding, and the Caribbean rhythm of cricket, equal parts carnival and contest, creates an atmosphere where talent alone isn’t enough. It was in this crucible that Riyad Latiff, born in 2003, began shaping himself as a cricketer. Still only in his early twenties by 2025, Latiff’s journey is one of persistence, patience, and the steady grind of domestic cricket in a region steeped in history but hungry for revival.

From his earliest days in Georgetown, Latiff’s cricketing education was built not in lavish academies but on community grounds where the sound of bat on ball was as much a social gathering as a competitive event. His father, himself a recreational cricketer, often took him to matches in the Inter-County competition, pointing out the qualities of Guyanese greats who had walked before him: Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s patience, Carl Hooper’s elegance, and, more recently, Shimron Hetmyer’s fearless stroke play. For Riyad, these were not distant idols but reference points, examples of how Guyana continually produced batters who could hold their own on the international stage.

By his teenage years, Latiff had already begun representing Guyana at the youth level, most notably in the regional Under-17 and Under-19 tournaments. His technique stood out: compact, patient, with a willingness to grind out runs even on difficult pitches. In 2020, at just 17, he featured in the West Indies Under-19 Championship, scoring two half-centuries in the tournament. His innings of 68 against Trinidad and Tobago Under-19s was particularly praised; he came in at 20 for 2 on a sticky track, left deliveries outside off with composure, and built partnerships through careful rotation of strike. For selectors, it was an innings that confirmed his temperament.

Latiff’s consistency earned him a place in the Guyana Jaguars development squad, where he began to rub shoulders with senior players. Training alongside men who had represented the West Indies, he developed a deeper understanding of professionalism: fitness routines, mental preparation, and the importance of adaptability. Coaches remarked on his ability to absorb lessons quickly. One noted: “Riyad isn’t flashy, but he listens. He takes what you tell him today and applies it tomorrow.”

His first-class debut came in the 2022–23 West Indies Championship, when Guyana handed him a spot against Barbados Pride. It was a daunting assignment. Barbados, with a bowling attack featuring regional stalwarts, is rarely kind to rookies. Latiff walked in at number five, nervous but composed. He made just 28 runs in his debut innings, but they were hard-earned. Facing Kemar Roach under cloudy skies, he wore deliveries on the body, defended stoutly, and picked off loose balls square of the wicket. The scoreboard didn’t reflect it, but teammates later said his grit helped settle the dressing room.

What defines Latiff is temperament. He is not the stereotypical Caribbean dasher who bludgeons bowling attacks; rather, he is methodical, often content to bat long and wear bowlers down. His coaches in Guyana see him as more in the mould of Chanderpaul than Gayle, patient, disciplined, and technically equipped for the longer formats. In an era where T20 often dominates attention, Latiff’s preference for red-ball cricket makes him unusual, but also valuable for a West Indies team that has long searched for batters capable of occupying the crease in Tests.

Looking ahead, if Latiff can convert his starts into big hundreds in first-class cricket and add greater explosiveness to his List A and T20 game, he will not just be a domestic stalwart but a genuine contender for West Indies colours. His story so far suggests he is built for the grind, unafraid of setbacks, and willing to grow incrementally. In Caribbean cricket, where consistency has often been a missing ingredient, that attitude might be his greatest gift.

(As of September 2025)