The Shivnarine Chanderpaul Practice Facility worth approximately G$3.5M was yesterday handed over to the Everest Cricket Club by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
Braving the rains, officials from the GCB converged on the venue to conclude a process that spanned 18 months.
Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, spoke of the significance of the facility and said the GCB plans to construct four more such facilities.
“The facility will benefit players at Everest, Georgetown, Demerara and Guyana at large,” said Sanasie while restating the fact that the Guyana Jaguars Cricket Academy is based at the venue.
President of Everest, Manzoor Nadir, welcomed the initiative and indicated that this will serve the players well.
“This is all towards giving our developing talents the opportunity to enhance their talents. It will help to produce more cricketers of international skills and in so doing, Guyana is going to be richer,” he said.
He committed the club to maintaining the facility to operational standard at all times and indicated that the facility is open to all clubs.
He said a structure will be implemented on the use once expressions of interest are indicated and suggested that no fee should be attached to development but reckoned that priority will be given to national players, academy players and members of the club.
Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart, also welcomed the initiative while indicating that it will serve to develop all the talents around the jurisdiction since it provides a facility that can be used at any time.
Meanwhile, Sanasie indicated that on Friday, the GCB will hand over a similar facility at the Salim Ground, Parika and by end of 2020, complete facilities in West Berbice, Linden and at the La Bonne Intention Center where the board is currently transforming into a First-Class venue, will be had.
Sanasie revealed that the exact locations of the West Berbice and Linden facilities were not yet confirmed but the most likely West Berbice location would be at Bush Lot.
For Linden, he said Bayroc was earmarked but with plans of a synthetic track allocated for the area, a new venue is needed.
The Cricket West Indies Director noted that the facilities will be placed at areas where it can be best utilized by the most number of persons.
When asked about the names of the facilities, Sanasie confirmed that names will be allocated to them but that decision will be made through discussions between those in charge of cricket administration in the area and the GCB.
Sanasie did not rule out the possibility of the facility in Linden being named after former Guyana and West Indies legend, Basil Butcher who recently passed away.
Chanderpaul who currently is functioning as the Guyana Jaguars assistant coach is West Indies’ second most prolific test batsman with 11867 runs in the format, highlighted by 30 centuries and 66 half centuries from 164 matches. In One Day Internationals, the 45-year-old left hander played 268 matches, scoring 8778 runs including 11 tons and 59 half centuries. He also played 22 T20 Internationals, scoring 343 runs.
