DIGICEL CPL Cricket Series is an event that is hosted by Digicel in markets where the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 is played each year. This initiative gives young aspiring cricketers a chance to meet and learn from their ‘heroes’ and where they are encouraged and given tips by CPL players and coaches.

Last Sunday, Digicel Guyana and Guyana Amazon Warriors gave 20 deserving youths from Buxton Cricket Academy a chance of a lifetime.

The youths had the opportunity to meet members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors like Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, and Shoaib Malik among others, shortly before play.

Paul and Hetmyer took the opportunity to give some encouraging words of advice to the youths. Hetmyer encouraged them to get involved in sports since he sees this as a means of staying motivated and not falling by the wayside, while Paul encouraged them to follow their dreams. “Nothing comes easy, you have to be disciplined at all times,” noted Paul.

The 21-year-old player also noted that sports can be the way out of poverty, since he knows what it’s like to work hard by using sports to change your situation and urged them to “just keep training, work hard and stay focussed.”

After the ‘meet and greet’ the youths got to stay and watch Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the Barbados Tridents, compliments of Digicel.

“We are very pleased to be a part of this activity today, simply because providing these young people with an ‘experience’ and the possibility of changing the course of their lives through cricket is what the Digicel youth CPL series is all about,” Vidya Sanichara of Digicel said.

She added, “We are giving them an opportunity to experience CPL first hand, and meet and learn from their heroes. This is the essence of cricket, to foster development and growth of tomorrow’s generation. CPL exemplifies this not only in Guyana but throughout the region and Digicel cannot be any prouder to be a part of this.”

The youths ranging 13-19 years are from the East Coast corridor and come from Plaisance to Ann’s Grove.

Cordel Martins, one of the club members, expressed appreciation. “It was a great experience getting to meet players of such high standards, having them tell us things that actually make sense. Cricket is a great outlet getting us off the streets.”

The Buxton Cricket Academy strives to use sports as a means to give these youths a chance to focus on something positive. Martins is one such product of this, as he was once getting himself into trouble on the streets. He is now gainfully employed and has developed a passion for the game.

“This is a great opportunity given to us by Digicel today. We would like to thank them for getting to meet such great players and hopefully one day some of us in turn will become players like them and get to meet youths so we can inspire them like they inspired us today,” said youth coach.

In its third year the Digicel CPL Youth Series continues to foster youth engagement and development. It has been conducted in the six competing CPL countries – Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis, and St Lucia and has provided more children with the opportunity to hone their cricket skills and learn from the best talent in the game. Watch 2019 CPL games on SportsMax.