PROJECT Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana has received a boost of $50 000 in cricket gear, compliments of Raj Bharrat, former resident of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice and who now lives in Florida, USA.

According to Anil Beharry, who is one of the two spearheads of the group, the gear will be supplied by another generous donor to this project, Ravi Etwaroo of Cricket Zone, Bronx, USA. Bharrat and Etwaroo are currently in Guyana and presented a few items in the interim, which included two pairs of batting gloves and one pair of batting pads.

Both Bharrat and Etwaroo expressed their satisfaction with the work of the initiative and pledged to continue their support. Bharrat is a major player in the Florida-Guyana Hope Foundation, a charitable organisation that has contributed significantly towards many charities in Guyana.

“It’s a pleasure to give back to the youths through cricket in the country of my birth,” Bharrat commented, at a simple ceremony held recently. “I am a keen follower of this gesture and I am impressed with its reach across Guyana,” he continued. The joint initiative was started by Kishan Das of USA and Beharry, Executive Member of the Guyana Cricket Board.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $270 000 in cash, two trophies, 12 cricket boots, 20 pairs of batting pads, 25 bats, 17 pairs of batting gloves, 20 thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pad, three arm guards, two boxes, six cricket bags and three helmets. In addition to the above, $600 000 worth in gear was donated by former National wicket-keeper/batter Sheik Mohamed.

To date, 43 young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, 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 Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while 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 in identifying same. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.