Milton Robert Pydana, the former Guyana and West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman, has died at the age of 75. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) confirmed his April 15 passing in a statement, sharing their sadness at the loss of a player whose first-class career spanned nearly two decades, from 1970 to 1988, during which he featured in 85 matches.
Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer, Cricket West Indies shared that Milton was always prepared to answer the call to play for the regional side.
“Milton’s story is one of quiet strength and untiring perseverance. In an era dominated by some of the greatest cricketers our region has ever known, Milton stood with dignity and determination, always prepared to answer the call for West Indies. Though his time in the maroon may have been brief, his impact was far deeper — a symbol of the countless men and women who give their all for the game, often without the spotlight they so richly deserve.”
Born in January 1950 in New Amsterdam, Guyana, the right-handed Pydana also played 27 List A matches, including three One Day Internationals (ODIs) for the West Indies. Two of these appearances came against Pakistan in 1980, with the third against India in 1983.
After migrating to the United States, Pydana continued to contribute to the sport and was appointed one of two assistant coaches of the US national cricket team in 2014. His path to international cricket was not without its challenges.
Despite consistent local performances, Pydana was unable to break into the West Indies Test side of the 1970s and 1980s, largely due to the presence of exceptional wicketkeepers such as Deryck Murray, Michael Findlay, and Jeffrey Dujon.
Domestically, Pydana was a stalwart of the Police first-division team, a key figure in the Berbice inter-county squad, and a regular in the Guyana national side. His longevity and commitment earned him a respected place in Guyanese cricketing history.
In March 2024, Pydana was honoured as a special guest at the reunion of the 1983 Guyana team—celebrated for being the first side from the nation to win both the regional four-day (Shell Shield) and one-day (Harrison Line Cup) tournaments under the leadership of Clive Lloyd.
