- GCB president Chetram Singh exhorts TCL youth team

President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh on Tuesday night urged the Guyana TCL Under-19 team to return to these shores in one month’s time with the trophy symbol of regional youth cricket supremacy.

Singh was speaking at a farewell dinner held in the team’s honour at the Waterchris Hotel.

“To my mind, you are a talented bunch of players who are capable enough of retaining the three-day title as well as going on to win the limited overs one so with this in mind, I want to urge you to go to Barbados and bring back the trophy,” said Singh.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) vice-president also took the opportunity to remind the team of the country’s rich tradition at the youth level and urged them to continue same.

“We are a force to be reckoned with at this level in the region and I want to urge each and every one of you to continue this tradition as you have the ability to do so. You can also do the double by winning the limited overs title also. There are Guyanese all over the world and when you get to Barbados, you will see what I am talking about so go there and make not only yourself but the country proud.”

TCL (Guyana) managing director Mark Bender highlighted his company’s pleasure at partnering with the WICB once again to host this tournament and, like Singh, urged the Eugene La Fleur-led Guyana side to do the hat trick.

“You are the best young cricketers in your country as you are the ones chosen to continue the rich tradition that your country has in youth cricket. I want to urge you to go out there and do your best as you seek to not only take your third successive regional youth title, but also complete your domination by winning the limited overs title also.”

Manager of the team and second vice-president of the GCB, Alvin Johnson, speaking on behalf of the team, expressed his delight at the compilation of the team which he thinks is bigger in size.

“I do like the size of the players we are competing with this year. Not taking anything away from those who have played for the country at this level before, this team has players who are well built and can pose a problem for our opponents’ physcologically,” Johnson said.

He added: “With this in mind along with the fact that there are no big names such as Jacobs (Steven), Chandrika (Rajendra) and Permaul (Veerasammy), this team has displayed a die-hard attitude during their training and the hunger to go out there and play and as such there is no way we should not repeat as champions this year and add the limited overs title to the list also.”

The team left Guyana yesterday morning for Barbados full of talent and brimming with confidence.  They will play the Leeward Islands at the Kensington Oval dubbed the Mecca of cricket in the West Indies in their opening game tomorrow.