FIFTEEN-year-old Dakshanarainsamy Narainsamy of Canefield Settlement, East Canje, Berbice and a student of Canje Secondary School, is the latest beneficiary of Project Cricket Gear, an initiative of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive and Kishan Das, who resides in the USA.
The aspiring cricketer, who is due to join the successful youth programmme at Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club, is the recipient of one pair of batting pads, one pair of batting gloves, one pair of cricket shoes and one bat. He was presented with the gear at a simple ceremony held recently.
Total cricket-related items collected so far: $310,000 in cash, two trophies, 13 cricket boots, 21 pairs of batting pads, 25 bats, 18 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 were donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket-keeper/batsman.
To date, 51 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted from three junior gear bags, two trophies, three arm guards, 20 bats, two boxes, three helmets, 19 pairs of cricket shoes, 12 pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and 17 pairs of batting gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also collected 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 were also beneficiaries.
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 talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit. Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
