Tucber Park pacer benefits from “Project Cricket Gear”

Young and promising fast bowler Kelvin Henry of New Amsterdam-based Tucber Park Cricket Club was recently presented with a brand-new pair of cricket shoes, courtesy of “Project Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana”. The initiative is a joint effort by former Berbice senior all-rounder and long-serving cricket administrator Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the United States of America (USA).
Tucber Park Cricket Club is also the home of Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd, and Niall Smith – three outstanding fast bowlers. The 13-year-old Henry was recently selected for the Berbice Under-13 squad to participate in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County tournament. A student of Berbice High School, Henry only recently started playing the game, but it’s highly possible we could see him in national colours in the not-too-distant future. The facilitators of the project wished him every success.
“This project commends the work of his cricket club and the Berbice Cricket Board [BCB] for producing so many players for Guyana and the West Indies,” a statement from the organisers shared.
Over the years, many cricketers have benefited from this project, including ace pacer Shamar Joseph, Kevlon Anderson – who recently made his debut for the West Indies – and several others.
The project’s facilitators added, “This project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community. We 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 amount to some $730,000 in cash, including 13 coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, 36 pairs of cricket shoes, 39 pairs of batting pads, 48 cricket bats, 47 pairs of batting gloves, 29 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 14 gear bags, 13 bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fibreglass bat, one pair of floppy hats, 16 boxes, four of white cricket balls, 13 boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone, one batting inner and 28 footballs. In addition to the above, gear with a value of over $600,000 was donated by Sheikh Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, one hundred and two cricketers, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, nine gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 39 bats, four boxes, six helmets, 37 pairs of cricket shoes, 21 pairs of batting pads, 25 thigh pads, one bat grip, 40 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. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, and Cold Fusion Cricket Club received 13 coloured uniforms, while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, 15 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, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each), Kendall’s Union cricket club (12 red balls), Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary Schools (12 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), Blairmont Cricket Club (one pair of batting pads, one cricket bat, one helmet and cricket balls), Tagore Memorial Secondary School and St Cuthbert’s Mission (one box of balls), Port Mourant CC (three boxes of balls, white cricket uniforms and one bat stick) and the DCB.
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 the same.