Altaf Ali is latest beneficiary of Cricket Gear Initiative

Altaf Ali, a 13-year-old leg spinner of Bush Lot Cricket Club, West Coast Berbice, is the latest cricketer to benefit from the Cricket Gear initiative being jointly managed by Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA.
Ali’s coach Rajbance Hemraj approached this project for assistance, and has been gifted one pair of cricket shoes for Ali. The Cricket Gear initiative has said it is pleased to be part of the development of Altaf Ali and of every other youth in Guyana. “Our aim is to keep young people off the streets, and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular”, it has said.
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far is as follows: $460,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, thirty-one pairs of cricket shoes, thirty-five pairs of batting pads, forty cricket bats, thirty-six pairs of batting gloves, twenty-six thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, twelve cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one fiberglass bat, one pair of floppy hats, thirteen boxes of white cricket balls, eleven boxes of red cricket balls, and twenty-eight footballs. In addition to the above, over $600,000 in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicket-keeper/batsman.

All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, 90 young players, male and female from all three counties of Guyana, have benefitted directly from cash, seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty-three bats, four boxes, six helmets, thirty-four pairs of cricket shoes, twenty-one pairs of batting pads, twenty-four thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty-five pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and three pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. Many others have benefited indirectly.
In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area have benefited from receipt of two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard have also each received one box of red cricket balls; Cold Fusion Cricket Club received thirteen coloured uniforms, while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves, two sets of stumps and bails.
Other beneficiaries are: the Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area; # 65 Young Titans have received 30 T-Shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each), Kendall’s Union Cricket Club with two boxes of red balls, Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary schools with twelve red balls each.
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 cricket clubs with a youth programme would also benefit.