— but team manager appeals for help to pay debts incurred

MANAGER for the Guyana Blind Cricket Team, Theresa Pemberton, said she does not mind

taking to the streets to beg for money in order to repay debts that were incurred recently to send three blind Guyanese cricketers to India.

Three persons – Leroy Phillips, Ganesh Singh and Kevin Douglas – were selected to play on the West Indies team in the World Cup Blind Cricket T20 that is scheduled in India later this month.

Despite all the odds, the guys made it to New York, thanks to cut-backs from Fly Jamaica Airways, and eventually to India, with kind assistance from a private individual who does not wish to be named.

So far, the team has received assistance from the Guyana Cricket Board and the National Sports Commission. However, debts to the tune of some $500,000 have been incurred to cover other costs, such as hotel and meals.

Pemberton, passionate about advocating for the vulnerable and disabled community, told the Guyana Chronicle recently that it’s “shameful” that no help came from the Ministry of Sports.

While she believes that Minister Nicolette Henry did all she could, Pemberton was of the view that Minister Rupert Roopnaraine did not do a good job at making representation for them at the level of Cabinet.

“I will go to the streets and beg in order to repay our debts if I have to, and I have no apologies to make,” Pemberton told this publication.

Meanwhile, 10 teams – India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, England, New Zealand, Nepal and Australia – are participating in the competition this time around, and each team comprises 16-17 players.

In a previous interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Pemberton, also the Treasurer for the Guyana Blind Cricket Association and Treasurer for the West Indies Blind Cricket Organisation, explained that while Phillips and Singh are totally blind, Douglas is partially sighted.

THE 99TH HOUR
The last time the West Indies sent a team to India, four years ago, Guyana could not participate because no finances were available.

“We are hoping (that the funds will be provided), because it makes us feel embarrassed when we go to regional tournaments and our players are being selected,” Pemberton had expressed.

“In 2012, we didn’t get sponsorship for our player to go. Guyana wasn’t represented and that was really bad because it was just one person. No one stepped forward, no matter how much we begged.”

Every other country jumps at the opportunity to send their players, Pemberton said.

“Take Trinidad for example. From the moment they are going to a regional tournament, or they have selectees going to a West Indies tournament, the Sports Department pays for their tickets right off. So the organisation doesn’t have that on their shoulders to worry about, unlike Guyana where down to the 99th hour, we have to be begging and calling and pleading and letting them know it is important for our players to go.”

EMPOWERMENT
Pemberton said blind cricket will continue to be lobbied for as it is a catalyst for empowerment of persons who are blind and visually-impaired.

“For example, Ganesh Singh became a recluse when he got totally blind at age 17. He became like a house furniture, never going any place and was protected by his family. In 2005 when Guyana embarked on blind cricket, he heard it on the radio and called to find out how he could get involved. He came down that afternoon very timid and when he realised he was with blind young persons like himself; after his second training session with us, he never looked back.

“It shows where sports on the whole is, a vehicle to empower people and blind cricket will continue to be a vehicle that we will use for our blind and visually-impaired persons. We are hoping that in raising awareness, the public will see the need to support the three blind cricketers and assist them in going.

“The blind in Guyana are doing a lot. The blind and the deaf are the vehicle for persons with disability. The blind looks out for all disabilities. We are hoping that the Government and corporate Guyana can see the purpose of what we’re doing and support us,” expressed Pemberton.

Meanwhile, blind cricket is played with a hard plastic ball, a special ball that makes a very strong sound. The stumps are laid out like conventional cricket but without bails on them. The umpire usually guides the blind persons back to the stump, which they use as a gauge to bowl.

The batsmen are bowled to underhand style and when they are about to be bowled, they are asked: “Batsman, are you ready?” When the batsman replies in the affirmative, the bowler then says, “Play!”