The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) hosted a Dinner to honour the victorious Guyana Jaguars players, West Indies U-19 world champs and female World T20 champs on Monday at the Savannah Suite of the Guyana Pegasus Hotel in which the players were given championship rings and chains made of gold.
Speaking at the event, honorary secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Anand Sanasie praised the work of all the players while noting that they should be proud of their achievements; he also alluded to the fact that these results show that our cricket structure locally is improving.
The GCB Secretary said, “when I saw the report that came out of the tournament, concerning the under-19s and them touted as it regards aspects of leadership, I felt proud being a Guyanese”.
The Leon Johnson led Guyana Jaguars won back-to-back titles in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-day tournament, and more impressively playing 17 matches unbeaten in the tournament, received a Champion ship ring made of gold which has an emerald and the engraving of the two successful seasons.
The West Indies Under-19 trio of Captain Shimron Hetmyer, Vice-Captain Keemo Paul and Wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin Imlach, all received similar rings while the duo of West Indies Female World T20 Champions, Treymane Smartt and Shemaine Campbell received gold chains.
Attorney-at-law James Bond, representing the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, echoed the words that “sport is the only thing that shows true cohesiveness and we must try to ensure that cricket continues to be a beacon of hope for Guyana”.
The Jaguars players to receive championship rings were: Leon Johnson: Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Vishaul Singh; Christopher Barnwell ; Raymon Reifer; Anthony Bramble; Veerasammy Permaul Devendra Bishoo; Ronsford Beaton; Paul Wintz; Steven Jacobs; Robin Bacchus; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Gudakesh Motie; Keon Joseph; Shimron Hetmyer, and Assad Fudadin.
Coach Esuan Crandon and Manager/ Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith also received championship rings.
Both Johnson and Smartt thanked the GCB for their recognizing their success and hoped that that gifts would continue to be given once there is the requisite success.