GCB honours outstanding cricketers for 2006
By Ravendra Madholall
Guyana Chronicle
December 14, 2006
A NIGHT of excellent recognition was held for the national outstanding cricketers when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) held its 2006 annual awards ceremony at the Umana Yana on Tuesday night. West Indies middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, for the third successive year, copped the senior regional cricketer-of-the-year prize.
Sarwan, who recently returned home from the current series between West Indies and Pakistan in Pakistan after suffering an ankle injury, received the Clive Lloyd Trophy based on his two magnificent centuries for Guyana in the 2005/2006 regional Carib Beer four-day tournament.
Joining the 26-year-old Sarwan on the list of awardees were Deon Ferrier for being the senior domestic cricketer-of-the-year, taking home the Rohan Kanhai trophy and national Under-19 batting star Gajanand Singh, who copped the junior cricketer-of-the-year and walked away with the Roy Fredericks trophy.
Singh had a wonderful TCL West Indies youth tournament which was held in Guyana. The hosts eventually emerged double champions as the 18-year-old left-hander amassed the highest runs in the competition (424), including two centuries.
National Twenty20 hero Esaun Crandon was named the most improved player and received the Lance Gibbs trophy. The all-rounder was the leading light for Guyana in the most challenging match in the Allen Stanford tournament against arch-rivals Jamaica, blasting a belligerent 71.
Crandon, the Rose Hall Town player grabbed career-best figures of seven for 125 from 30 overs against Carib Beer champions Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year and his elevation to West Indies colours was also a notable achievement for the 25-year-old cricketer to the Six Team in Hong Kong.
Albion Sports Complex of Berbice was named club-of-the-year receiving the president’s trophy after their dominating local cricket. They won the Baron Foods and Neal and Massy first division competitions recently.
Berbice coach Michael Franco was recognised for his continued commitment to the development of cricket through coaching while Fazal Ishak was also the recipient of a prize for his dedication to GCB.
The wife of the late Morris Brandon received the posthumous award for his services rendered to the administration, while Clyde Duncan was among the individual awardees after his appointment to the independent panel of ICC Umpires.
Corporate awards went to Demerara Distillers Limited, Guyana Beverage Inc. and Shapoorji Pallonji for the development of cricket in Guyana via sponsorship while Grantley Culbard received a certificate of completion for his participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Duckworth/Lewis system.
Meanwhile, president of GCB Chetram Singh, in his year review, highlighted that Guyana had done well over the past couple months and stressed the championship win for Guyana in the inaugural regional Stanford 19-team single elimination tournament was a huge achievement for the nation’s cricketers.
Minster of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, in his brief remarks, declared that Guyana is on the road to the 2007 World Cup with plenty of success in the West Indies. Guyana will host eight super stage matches.
“I must say congratulations to all those awardees and best of luck to them in their future endeavours while I am appealing to the people of this beautiful country that we most work in harmony for the massive event of World Cup next year, we have been making great progress in terms of infrastructures and we should capitalise on this one-time opportunity,” the 39-year-old Anthony declared.
At the conclusion of a Cultural dance displayed by Marian Academy students, Bishwa Panday, honorary secretary of GCB, in his introduction of the guest speaker - the legendary Clive Lloyd - also congratulated the awardees and then declared the illustrious career briefly of the Guyanese, a former West Indies captain.
Assistant Secretary of GCB, Ronald Williams, who gave the closing remarks, thanked all the sponsors for their part in the development of cricket in Guyana. He congratulated the special awardees for their achievements, which he said should motivate them to greater heights.