Blind cricketers need funding for all-weather pitch

By Avenash Ramzan

Even without a facility of their own, Guyana’s blind cricketers have down reasonably well over the years.

Ever since regional blind cricket became structured under the West Indies Cricket Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the country has produced 10 West Indies players.

One of those players is Ganesh Singh, who falls in the B1 category of blindness. He is currently the Cricket Development Coordinator of the Guyana Blind Cricket Association, and he is leading efforts to have an all-weather pitch built to assist the nation’s visually impaired cricketers.

Singh, in an exclusive chat with News Room Sport on Thursday, indicated that the aim is to construct the facility in the compound of the Guyana Society for the Blind on High Street, Georgetown. It will be outfitted with nets and stumps.

In order to make the project a reality, Singh stated that they would need to raise approximately G$300,000. At the moment, they are at zero.

“So we’re calling on corporate entities and individuals to assist us to bring this project to fruition,” Singh said. “It is something that is badly needed, as we currently don’t have a home for blind cricket in Guyana, and this facility would help us significantly in preparation for tournaments and matches in Guyana and beyond.”

Through his radio programme ‘Disability and You’, Singh has been consistently advocating for persons to support the efforts of the Guyana Blind Cricket Association, and this latest initiative is no different.

“What this (the construction of the pitch) would do is ensure all our players, who are at the Guyana Society for the Blind on a daily basis, be able to practice whenever they feel like doing so, and not have to depend on the availability of a ground that has competing activities. It would really help to develop blind cricket in Guyana and of course empower persons who form part of this section of our population,” Singh explained.

Currently, the Guyana Blind Cricket Association utilises the Malteenoes Sports Club for practice sessions and games.

Persons, organisations or corporate entities desirous of lending a helping hand are asked to contact Singh on 652-8975 or Theresa Pemberton on 670-3535.

The Guyanese who have represented the West Indies are (Males) Ganesh Singh, Kevin Douglas, Oliver Kerr, Patrick Howard, Leroy Phillips and (Females) Robeka Edinboro, Akila Smith, Melieka Crawford, Crystal Aulder and Rosemarie Ramitt.