CRYSTAL Durant and Ahil Hemraj, both from the fast growing Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCC) were the latest young cricketers to benefit from “Project Cricket Gear,” the joint initiative between Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive member Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA.
Durant, is a student of Vryman’s Erven Secondary School. The 16-year-old represented Guyana in the 2022 Regional Under-19 Tournament. The fast-bowling all-rounder also played for the Senior Select X1 in the 2022 Inter County Tournament and Berbice Senior team earlier this year. She received one helmet and one bat.

Fourteen-year-old Hemraj, a fast-bowling all-rounder, who is a student of Berbice High School, received one pair of batting pads.
At a simple ceremony held recently, the young cricketers expressed gratitude for the assistance and promised to work hard on their game. The project is impressed with the youth and general development of this relatively young cricket club and is delighted for the opportunities the club provide for the young people in the community. Special mention was made of the coach Ameer Rahaman.

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $370 000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, 17 pairs of cricket boots, 30 pairs of batting pads, 31 cricket bats, 28 pairs of batting gloves, 21 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes, nine cricket bags, six bat rubbers and six helmets.
In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket- keeper/batsman. According to Beharry, all cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.

To date, 59 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 23 bats, two boxes, five helmets, 22 pairs of cricket shoes, 13 pairs of batting pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber, 19 pairs of batting gloves and one pair of wicket-keeping gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area collected from two used bats.

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club 13 colour uniforms while RHCCCC received two, 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 also benefitted along with the Town of Lethem while youth coach Travis Persaud got one box of red balls.
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 cricket clubs with a youth programme, will also benefit.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.