New Doctor’s Clinic gifts duo Masters World Cup opportunity

‘IF it is for the betterment of these stalwarts and for the game, we will make it happen,’ said Managing Director of The New Doctor’s Clinic, Satyendra Khemraj while making financial donations to two masters cricketers who have been selected to play in an over-50 world cup tournament organized by the International Masters Cricket Association.

The tournament is set for Capetown, South Africa where Guyanese Basil Persaud and Chanderpaul Singh will suit up for West Indies Masters in the 14-team showpiece from March 6 to 20. Players selected are expected to fully fund themselves while representing the Caribbean in the three-week long tournament during the South African summer.

When the news broke out about the two local players being invited to join the world cup on the condition of paying for the trip, Khemraj immediately offered financial assistance. ‘Basil and Chanderpaul are fit, they are examples of what living healthy lifestyles should be. We at The New Doctor’s Clinic will support that [healthy living] any day. That is why we are supporting them to live their dreams of playing in a world cup,’ Khemraj stated.

Both players have since confirmed their trips but are on the quest of securing additional funding. Persaud played at the under-19 Inter-County level in the 1980s where he was the captain of Essequibo. The 53 year old is a current player for various clubs on the Essequibo Coast and also for Everest Masters in Georgetown where his right-handed abilities as an all-rounder makes him an asset with bat and ball. This will be the first opportunity for the Essequibian at this level, while Singh will be on his second outing.

Chanderpaul Singh, a bodywork mechanic from Enterprise Village on the East Coast of Demerara made his West Indies Masters debut late 2022, playing in a quadrangular tournament in Barbados. The right-arm leg spinner spun a big impression in that series and was a first pick to Capetown. Locally, the 58 year old also played at the inter-county level representing Demerara under-19s and was also called to senior trials in the 1980s.

Khemraj, who is also a member of Everest Masters, told the players to ‘go out there, play cricket, enjoy the occasion and enjoy yourselves without worrying about anything else.’ In turn, both players expressed their gratitude to The New Doctor’s Clinic and pledged to do their best for themselves and supporters.

Singh and Persaud are delighted to be selected and are expected to play leading roles as the Masters Cricket World Cup returns to Capetown after the 2020 edition was cut short after two rounds due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The first over-50s world cup was contested among eight teams in Sydney, Australia, in 2018. (John Ramsingh)