The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Sunday last took its developmental programme to the mining town of Linden when it met with representatives of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association and Linden at the Bayroc ground last Sunday.
Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie along with GCB Territorial Developmental Officer Colin Stuart, met with Regional Chairman of Region 10, Sharma Solomon, President of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association, Rohan Sarjoo and President of the Upper Demerara Cricket Committee, Lancelot Easton, among others to discuss the growth of cricket in Linden.
According to Sanasie, Easton has continuously petitioned the GCB for help. He added that for the past 15 years whenever he went to the Bayroc ground, he saw cricket playing or some sort of developmental work ongoing, which he is happy about (a cricket match was playing on Sunday between Bayroc and Sandpipers ).
He added that the GCB finds it necessary to aid in the progress of the sport in the Region.
“As part of the GCB Developmental Prog-ramme, we have been going around the country assisting clubs
and associations to expand and develop cricket in various ways. Today we are giving $250,000 to Bayroc club to develop cricket, and $250,000 to the regional authority to partner and assist the Cricket Committee with cricket programmes.
“Additionally, we are now donating six cricket bats and five boxes of cricket balls with more equipment to follow,” said Sanasie.
He also pledged four truckloads of special dirt to rebuild the cricket wickets at the Bayroc Ground.
Solomon thanked the GCB for its move and promised to put the contribution to proper and meaningful use.
“Cricket has always been a feature in sports in Region 10 and this is one of the most impressive moments in cricket in this region. We are very grateful. On behalf of the many cricketers and potential cricketers, thanks for this gesture. We can assure you that your assistance will be used wisely by the authority for cricket here,” posited Solomon.
Easton said the effort from the GCB was a step towards development adding that he was hopeful that more players from Linden will represent Demerara and end up representing Guyana in the near future.
“This is the best we have gotten from any cricket fraternity in Guyana for the 35 years I have been in cricket. We have a lot of good young cricketers but only one (Stephon Browne) managed to make the Demerara U-19 team this year. We are looking to get more young players involved. So we are extremely thankful to the GCB for giving us a push.
This is the beginning of better things for cricket in Linden,” stated Easton.
President of the East Bank Cricket Association, Sarjoo, thanked the GCB for assisting Linden, Farm and Providence. The clubs at Farm and Providence, according to Sarjoo, also received reasonable donations from the GCB to improve their facilities.
