Pugnacious left-handed national youth cricketer Shamar Apple, a young and talented player has benefited again from “Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”, a noble initiative done jointly by Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA.
The 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has already represented Guyana at the Under-15 level and is in the Under-17 team for this year’s championship. He was also recently selected to the national Under-19 squad for the 2025 tournament, a unique feat. Apple attends St Winefride’s Secondary School and plays at all levels for the Transport and General Sports Club. He was the recipient of a pair of batting gloves.
Shamar Apple displays his new pair of gloves
According to the programme’s organisers, Apple was very thankful for the pair of batting gloves and promised to continue to work hard on his game. They noted that the project was pleased to be part of the development of this special talent and promised to continue to support him as his career grows.
The initiative will continue to strive to make every community a safer and better place. The facilitators noted that they are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana; “our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular”.
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $630,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, thirty-five pairs of cricket shoes, thirty-eight pairs of batting pads, forty-seven cricket bats, forty-two pairs of batting gloves, twenty-nine thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, fourteen gear bags, thirteen bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fibreglass bat, one floppy hat, one pair of inners, sixteen boxes and four of white cricket balls, thirteen boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone and twenty-eight footballs. In addition to the above, gear with the value of over $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, ninety-nine players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, eight gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty-five bats, four boxes, six helmets, thirty- seven pairs of cricket shoes, twenty-one pairs of batting pads, twenty-five thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty-nine pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves with one pair of inners. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. The Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each; Cold Fusion Cricket Club 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; No 65 Young Titans (30 T-shirts), youths of Just Try Cricket Club; Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls); Shamar Joseph; Nehemiah Hohenkirk; Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, and Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each); Kendall’s Union cricket club (twelve red balls); Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary Schools (twelve red balls each); Thaddeus Lovell (one pair of cricket shoes); GCC (two boxes of white cricket balls); Bush Lot United Sports Club (one box of red balls); West Demerara Cricket Association (one box of white balls) and Blairmont Cricket Club (one pair of batting pads, one cricket bat, one helmet and cricket balls).
Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skill, 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 also benefit.
