FIFTEEN-year-old Khishun Khedaroo of No. 35 Village, Corentyne, Berbice is the latest beneficiary of Project Cricket Gear, an initiative started by USA-based Kishan Das and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive member Anil Beharry.

Khedaroo, who is a student of JC Chandisingh Secondary School, recently joined Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Cricket (RHTYSC) team. He was the recipient of one box, one thigh pad and one arm guard, compliments of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, with branches at Port Mourant, City Mall and South Road, Georgetown.

At a simple ceremony held recently at the Port Mourant branch, young Khedaroo said, “I am crazy about cricket and I am thankful for this help and promise to do my best to realise my dream of representing the West Indies one day.”

In response, Chitra Bedessie, a representative of Trophy Stall, stated that “Ramesh Sunich, the owner of the company, is happy to be part of this project and to be given the opportunity to help this kid. He is also pleased with the work of the initiative and its level of accountability and mileage sponsors have benefited from.” The project expressed thanks to Sunich for the kind gesture.

To date, 43 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gear bags, two trophies, three arm guards, 17 bats, two boxes, three helmets, 12 pairs of cricket shoes, 10 pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and 12 pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area collected two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, while Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) received two boxes, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem also benefited.

Cricket-related items, used or new, are 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 and club leaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.