The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) developmental program reaches Linden when Members of the Board met with representatives of East Bank Demerara Cricket Association and Linden at the Bayroc ground last Sunday.
Honorary Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, and GCB Territorial Developmental Officer, Colin Stuart, met with Regional Chairman of Region 10, Sharma Soloman, President of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association, Rohan Sarjoo, President of the Upper Demerara Cricket Committee, Lancelot Easton, among others to discuss the growth of cricket in Linden.
Sanasie stated that Mr. Easton continuously petitioned the GCB for help and for the past 15 years and whenever he went to 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 Bayrock 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 program, 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 Bayrock club to develop cricket, and $250,000 to the regional authority to partner and assist the Cricket Committee with cricket programs. Additionally we are now donating six cricket bats and five boxes of cricket balls with more equipment to follow” said Sanasie. The GCB Secretary also pledged four truckloads of special dirt to rebuild the cricket wickets at Bayrock Ground.
Soloman 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 Soloman.
Easton said this effort from the GCB is a step towards development, and he is 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 Mr. Rohan Sarjoo, thanked the GCB for assisting Linden, Farm and Providence. The clubs at Farm and Providence, according to Mr. Sarjoo, also received reasonable donations, from the GCB, to improve their facilities.