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Sport
week ending december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
Cricket for Change making an impact
K
ingston, Jamaica - Cricket can change the lives of disadvantaged youth. This is the message of Cricket for Change (C4C), a British Airways community partner, which aims “to take young people on a journey of self-development using cricket and rugby.” C4C CEO, Andy Sellins, accompanied by West Indies and international cricketer Chris Gayle, took time out last week to update British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton about C4C activities in the Caribbean and the planned collaboration
between C4C and the Chris Gayle Foundation. In Jamaica, to carry out capacity-building initiatives at the Foundation, Sellins explained that the plan is to, next year, engage atrisk youth, 16-20 years old, in an intense learning programme using cricket as a tool which makes them work-ready. A similar programme exists in the United Kingdom supported by former English cricketer-turned-television personality Phil Tufnell. C4C uses the “Sportwork Impact Assessment App” – the first sustainable shared measurement tool for the
Sport for Development Sector, which provides evidence of the impact and cost savings attributed to their interventions, many of which are highly rated for effectively reducing youth crime and antisocial behaviour. Sellins and Gayle were accompanied on their visit to the High Commission by Diane Corrie, commercial manager, Caribbean, British Airways; Radcliffe Haynes, head, Chris Gayle Foundation; and Donovan Miller, Cricket for Change programme manager and head coach of the Chris Gayle Academy in London.
(From left) British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton (third left) makes a point at a function of Cricket for Change and the Chris Gayle Foundation at the British High Commission on Knutsford Boulevard recently. Also pictured are (from left) Donovan Miller, programme manager, Cricket For Change and head coach, Chris Gayle Academy; Andy Sellins, CEO, Cricket for Change; West Indies batsman Chris Gayle; Diane Corrie, commercial manager Caribbean, British Airways; and Radcliffe Haynes, head of the Chris Gayle Foundation
Zaheer returns to India Test squad
Z
aheer Khan has been recalled to the India Test squad for the forthcoming tour of South Africa. Zaheer is one of five fast bowlers for the two-Test series, and the only newcomer to the 17-member squad is the batsman Ambati Rayudu. However, there was no place for the opener Gautam Gambhir, who scored a century for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy
days before the selection meeting. It is learnt that the team management didn’t want Gambhir in the squad. Zaheer, who last played for India during the home Tests against England last December, was recently omitted from the list of centrally contracted players for the current season. The injury-prone left-arm seamer made a return to the longer format this
season with 13 wickets in three Ranji games for Mumbai, including a five wicket haul. However, he was not considered for the one-day squad. Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh - two other players who were not handed central contracts - have been left out of both squads. The Test squad also has Wriddhiman Saha as the backup wicketkeeper for MS Dhoni,
the captain. Saha last played for India during the Adelaide Test of 2012. Ravindra Jadeja, the allrounder, returns after sitting out the West Indies Tests to rest his injured shoulder. He is the third spinner in the squad after R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. Rayudu, 28, made his international debut during the one-day tour of Zimbabwe in August, where he scored one fifty. Amit Mishra, the leg spinner, remains in the oneday team but was not included for the Tests. The surprise inclusion in the one-day squad is the fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who was expensive during the seven-match ODI series against Australia recently. Ishant leaked 189 runs in three matches and was dropped after he conceded a whopping 30 runs in one over, which cost India the Mohali ODI. Ishant was part of the Test squad against West Indies but lost his place to the impressive Mohammed Shami, playing his first Test series. Ishant and fast bowler Umesh Yadav were included in the one-day squad in place of seamers Jaydev Unadkat and
Zaheer Khan last played a Test during the home series against England last December
Vinay Kumar. Batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been included in both squads. Yadav said he was pleased with Zaheer’s return to the Test squad, as the latter’s experience was invaluable to the young pacers in the team. “Zaheer has had a great influence on youngsters with his ability to guide us through the bump and grind of international cricket,” Yadav told PTI . “I have got a lot of valuable tips on fast bowling and there is no better exponent of reverse swing than Zak. He is like a mentor to us and it is an honour to play international cricket alongside him. Zaheer’s advice in match situations is invaluable as he is a brilliant reader of opposition batsmen.” The tour gets un-
derway with the first of three ODIs starting December 5, followed by the two Tests. Test squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha ODI squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra (Cricinfo)
NY Better Hope wins Guyana...
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They were immediately put under pressure by the Better Hope bowlers as they were bowling tight spells. Ronald Evelyn once again proved to be too much for the oppositions as he ran through the Super Kings lineup claiming 3 wickets for only 15 runs in his 4 overs. With wickets falling at constant intervals, Industry Super Kings were eventually bowled out 117. With this being the lowest score that they
had to chase during the entire tournament, Better Hope felt good about their chances of winning. Gus Gordon and K. Sanichar got the chase off to a flying start adding 48 for the first wicket before Sanichar was dismissed for 28. Gordon would go on to score 47, but a few late wickets by the Super Kings stifled Better Hope’s chase. Three wickets fell for 15 runs as D. Harper and G. Persaud restricted
the batsmen. Eventually Better Hope reached their total in the 20th over and emerged as champions. Making the journey from New York to Guyana, Better Hope was rewarded for their travels as they were the undisputed victors of the Guyana Softball Cup Masters Category. They truly did save their best performance for last as the bowlers had their best performance of the tournament.