By Rajiv Bisnauth

VETERAN Guyana and West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named brand ambassador of the Texila American University (TAU).Chanderpaul signed a one-year contract with the University and completed the formalities Thursday evening at the Pegasus Hotel.
Head of Operations at the University, Immanuel Prabalanathan, prior to formally handing over the agreement to the cricketer, welcomed the West Indies superstar and said TAU is honoured to have him as their brand ambassador.

“It’s a proud moment for us at TAU, and we are elated,” Prabalanathan said.
The Head of Operations also spoke briefly on Chanderpaul’s achievements.
Chanderpaul, who played a record 164 Tests, was controversially axed last May by West Indies selectors following a run of low scores.
Chanderpaul amassed 11 867 runs at an average of 51 and lies second on the all-time West Indies list of run-scorers behind Brian Lara who scored 11 953 runs.
He struck 30 centuries and 66 half-centuries. Chanderpaul also played 268 One-day Internationals garnering 8 778 runs at an average of 41, and also suited up for 22 Twenty20 Internationals.

He made his Test debut as a 19-year-old against England back in 1994 and proceeded to become a feature of West Indies’ batting over the following two decades.
Renowned for his unconventional batting stance and his ability to concentrate for long periods, Chanderpaul consistently scored runs for the regional side despite their fluctuating fortunes in Tests.

He was one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year in 2008, the same year he was voted the ICC Player-of-the-Year.
The soft-spoken star also led West Indies in 14 Tests but quit in April 2006 after a year on the job.

“I look forward to making an important contribution to the company. It is also a great honour for me to be associated with the University,” Chanderpaul said.
Texila American University, one of the best Caribbean medical schools, is located in Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America. TAU offers several Health Science programmes with a high level of professionalism, exactness and problem-solving skills.