Twenty-five junior cricketers drawn from six clubs on Saturday became the first recipients of cricket gear from the Basil Butcher Cricket Development Programme.
The programme is a collaborative effort between the 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).
The players were drawn from the RHTYSC, Albion, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Canje, Blairmont and West Berbice cricket teams.
The simple presentation ceremony was done at the Area H Ground in the presence of BCB and RHTYSC officials and parents of the players.
Club Secretary/CEO and BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the project as another red letter day in the ongoing development of Berbice cricket adding that it signals the commitment of both the club and the board in working beyond the call of duty to ensure that the rich tradition of the county game is kept alive.
Foster disclosed that a total of 87 players would receive cricket equipment under the project in observance of the late legendary player, who would have celebrated his 87th birthday next month.
Butcher, who was born September 3, 1933, played 44 Tests for the West Indies, scoring 3104 runs at an average of 43.11 with seven centuries and 16 half-centuries.
Foster, who was accompanied by BCB Assistant Secretary, Ameer Rahaman, Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu and executives of the RHTYSC, urged the players to emulate the hard work, dedication and positive attitude of Butcher.
He spoke of the importance of education, faith and discipline and urged the players to reject racism and to be the agents of change in Guyana.
The young players were told that the two organisations were committed to investing in their future but they would have to take advantage of the opportunities given to them.
He stated that the novel coronavirus has curtailed a lot of the BCB plans for 2020 including at least 20 tournaments, a professional first division league, numerous coaching programmes including a cricket academy and personal developmental sessions.
Despite the pandemic, the two organisations have successfully completed several programmes.
The BCB has used the break period to obtain a second sponsorship for a two-day, first- division tournament which would start as soon as the ongoing Banks DIH tournament is completed.
The board has also acquired its own pitch covers and would shortly receive a second coaching set for its coaches from an overseas based Berbician.
Foster expressed disappointment that over the last three decades, former players and officials who now reside overseas, seem to have forgotten their roots and the game that had made them household names. He stated that giving back to society is one of the best things that a human can have and urged the former players to get on board the development train in the Ancient County.
Naidu, who is overseeing the project, stated that over the next month, another 62 youths would receive cricket gear while food hampers, 100 gallons of cleaning detergent, bicycles, score books and school bags will be distributed to clubs, schools, Town Councils and government institutions like the Police Stations, Post Offices and Fire Stations.
The organisations said they wanted to thank all the donors to the Basil Butcher Go Fund Me account and others like Bissondyal Singh, former national player Sheik Mohamed, Papie Jafarally, Kevin Sinclair, Poonai Bhigroog, C and K Pharmacy, Dennis Deroop, Hand in Hand Insurance, Roland Williams, Deonarine Shane and national player Gudakesh Motie. A special visit will also be made to Linden, where Butcher lived most of his adult life to hand over gear and bicycles to the youths.
