THE Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) was recently the recipient of nine thigh pads and one pair of junior wicket-keeping pad, compliments of Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana.’

“The ECB is in a transformation phase and we welcome any assistance to rise above the challenges” the President, Deleep Singh, stated. “It’s a wonderful initiative and I must commend the partners, Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA and wish them more success in the future.”

According to Beharry, “ever since I played Inter County in Essequibo and became an executive member of Berbice and Guyana Cricket Boards, I advocated for special treatment for Essequibo cricket, taking into consideration it’s geography and related cost” Beharry responded. “Myself and Kishan are happy to be part of the development of Essequibo, Guyana and West Indies cricket.”

The gears were recently distributed to the ECB sub committees.

Cricket related items, including cash, collected so far: $170,000 in cash, two trophies, eleven pairs cricket boots, eighteen pairs of batting pads, twenty bats, fourteen pairs of batting gloves, nineteen thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard, six cricket bags and two helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed — former National wicket-keeper/batsman.

To date, 37 young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, two trophies, one arm guard, fourteen bats, one box, two helmets, ten pairs of cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one bat rubber and twelve pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. The Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard each collected one box of red cricket balls while RHCCCC received two boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails.

Cricket related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country while club leaders also assist in identifying talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.