National U17 cricketers benefit from Cricket Gear Initiative

Three under-17 cricketers who represented Berbice in the recently concluded inter-county tournament organised by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have received their cricket gear, sourced by Derrick Kallicharran, Raj Rai, Kumar Dindyal, and members of the Kaieteur Cricket Club of Canada.
Berbice captain and national vice-captain Afraz Budhoo, and standby player Micah Amsterdam received a pair of metal spikes cricket shoes, while Guyana selectee Romario Ramdehol also benefitted from receipt of a floppy hat. Budhoo is a left- handed batsman who bowls right arm off spin, and is a member of the Albion Cricket Club. Right-arm fast bowler Amsterdam is from Tucber Park Cricket Club, while Ramdehol, a product of the Rose Hall Town Community Center CC, is a right arm batsman and off spinner.
Guyana will participate in the upcoming regional tournament to be held in Trinidad and Tobago shortly. The gear was donated by Derrick Kallicharran, Raj Rai, Kumar Dindyal, and members of the Kaieteur Cricket Club of Canada after representation was made to this joint initiative between Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry by coach Leslie Solomon. The tokens were presented by Marvin Abbensettes, who represented the sponsors and encouraged the players to remain disciplined and focused.

This noble project then reached out to Kallicharran, a former West Indies “B” cricketer, who along with his friends responded immediately. This project thanked the donors for their continued support, “so that we can assist young people and develop cricket, especially through youths”.
Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $460,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, twenty-seven pairs of cricket shoes, thirty-three pairs of batting pads, thirty-five cricket bats, one floppy hat, thirty- one pairs of batting gloves, twenty-five thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, twelve cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one fiber glass bat, thirteen boxes of white cricket balls, three boxes of red balls, and twenty-eight footballs.
In addition to the above, gear worth more than $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper/ batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, eighty young players, male and female from all three counties of Guyana, have benefited directly from seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty-three bats, three boxes, six helmets, thirty- one pairs of cricket shoes, twenty pairs of batting pads, twenty-four thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty-three pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads, and three pairs of wicketkeeping gloves.
Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam 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 wicketkeeping gloves, a set 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, No.65 Young Titans with 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, and Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket 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 will also benefit.
The success of this initiative would never have been possible without the support of the following: Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Nagamootoo, Moses Nagamootoo Jnr, Regal Sports Store, Omkar Singh, Parmanand Dhaniram, Reshma Mathura, Booman Singh, Krishna Rengensamy, Ishwar Singh, Ricky Deonarain of 4R Bearings, Terry Mathura of TDMJ Inc., Kennard Verapen and NY Pioneer CC, Anita and Derek Kallicharran, Subhas Powan Persaud of DX Sports, Ramjit Singh, Vishnu Dudnauth, Johnno Persaud, Bob Harrischan, Kumar Dindial, Shazam Hussain, Ravi Lutchman of JIS&L NY and Muhammad Afzal of Cyber Trading, Georgetown.
The role of the media cannot be underestimated, and we thank you for your continued support from the inception. Distribution will continue.