Sheeran and Hemraj latest beneficiaries of Cricket Gear initiative

Rahul Sheeran and Tamesh Hemraj, aged 15 and 11 respectively, and both of Bush Lot Cricket Club, West Coast Berbice, were the latest to benefit from Project Cricket Gear, the joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA.
Sheeran is a left-handed batsman and right-hand medium pacer and Hemraj is a right-handed batsman and leg spinner.
Rajbance Hemraj, their coach, had made representation on behalf of the aspiring cricketers and the initiative responded immediately. The young men both received one pair of batting gloves. The Project said it was pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep young people off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular.
Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $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 fibreglass bat, one floppy hat, thirteen boxes of white cricket balls, eleven boxes of red cricket balls and twenty-eight footballs. In addition to the above, gear valued 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-two young players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited 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-seven 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 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 wicketkeeping 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, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each); Kendall’s Union Cricket Club (two boxes of red balls); and Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary Schools with twelve red balls each.
The 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 will also benefit.