Accolades for Regional Under-19 champions Guyana

– Tagenarine Chanderpaul crowned MVP of thre—day tournament
HAVING claimed their first Regional three- day Under-19 title in seven years less than two weeks ago, champions Guyana on Wednesday night at a simple cocktail reception hosted by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board, received accolades for their triumph at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion.West Indies Under-19 and first class opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was declared the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after amassing a total of 247 runs at an average of 61.75, while Leeward Islands fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who also played for the West Indies at the Under-19 level, was named Most Promising fast bowler.

Prior to the distribution of the above mentioned prizes and others, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and president of the GCB Drubahadur delivered brief remarks, with Secretary of the GCB Anand Sanasie moving the vote of thanks.
Kumar showered praise on the GCB for their sterling efforts amidst trying times to ensure the game of cricket did not suffer in Guyana, saying ‘It was a glorious year for the game amidst the hiccups faced off the field.”
He added, “Our teams had good training prior to the start of the various competitions they entered. I am very proud to know that our Under-15 team did very well to win the Regional championships early last month, which is good for the development of cricket in Guyana.
Certainly, the Under-19 team which is being led this time around by Brian Sattaur, did give us memories when they won the youth championships for six consecutive years with some players who represented Guyana back then, going onto play for the country’s senior team.”
An elated Kumar told his audience which included all the participating teams except ousted champions Jamaica, who asked to be excused due to an incident back home involving one of their players’ parent and ICC Americas, that the future of Guyana’s cricket look extremely good.
He was a bit disappointed however, at the non-inclusion of a Best All-Rounder award for the three -day tournament, since he felt that 16 year old Kemo Paul would have been a run away favorite to cart off same, following which he has promised to make such a donation at the end of today’s limited overs final at Everest to the Essequibian.
The outspoken Kumar who publicly indicated his willingness to work with administrators of GCB towards the development of the game, said he has never seen that entity take so much time to emphasise on fitness with all their teams this year, an investment that has paid off with the success story behind the Undewr-15 and 19 teams, while the senior female team finished second to Jamaica.
He believes that both Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer have the ability to make it all the way to the West Indies senior team in the future, while Paul has the talent to progress into a genuine all-rounder for any team, as he is a capable bowler who can handle himself well with the bat.
He thanked the teams for the wonderful show they put on over the past three weeks, while he urged the Guyanese to go out and complete the double when they face the Windward Islands in the limited overs final at Everest today.
Drubahadur thanked the WICB, who worked out an agreement with the Government of Guyana following which the tournament was held, for their confidence expressed in the GCB to do so, while he congratulated Guyana on its success and wished all the teams well in their future endeavours.
Apart from the two individual awards mentioned above, Joseph’s teammate Kasey Carty received a trophy for the Most Runs scored (248), Barbados’ Chad Williams- Most Wickets (26), Leniko Boucher -Most Dismissal as a wicketkeeper (11, 6 catches and 5 stumpings) and Chanderpaul- Highest Individual Score, 132 not out against Trinidad and Tobago.
All the umpires who officiated were the recipients of a medallion while the Match Referees in former West Indies fast bowlers Colin Stuart and Reon King along with Grantley Culbard, received plaques.
Following Sanasie’s vote of thanks, all the invitees, among whom was dependable West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, partook in the cocktail reception.

(By Calvin Roberts)