Some are forgotten, some have passed on and many are still active on the field of play and as administrators.
Dereck Kallicharran (left), Milton Pydana (center), and former West Indies and Guyana captain Clive Lloyd, discuss the merits of forming the Friends of Ex Guyana Cricketers group, when the latter visited New York recently.
From among the numbers of former national Guyana cricketers still active here in New York, an impressive gathering met recently and formed a group titled Friends of Former Guyana Cricketers (FFGC).
The plan is to help and recognize their peers, primarily the ones back home in the Land of Many Waters.
Headed by Dereck Kallicharran, the group’s aim is to honor past national players and their families with monetary donations, to be derived mainly through fund raising.
Kallicharran, the ex Guyana leg spinning all-rounder, was named the FFGC chairman, with former fast bowler Leslaine Lambert as vice chairman and ex opening batsman Terry Etwaroo as secretary.
The assistant secretaries are Kamal Singh and Nigel Harper and a fund raising committee comprising Leonard Baichan, Ray Joseph, Sew Shivnarine, Amarnauth Ramcharitar, Victor Benjamin, Cuthbert Mendonca and Jerry Persaud, was also identified.
Queens Real Estate broker Jai Sharma will serve as patron.
The Foundation has already identified the late Andrew Lyght, the former dashing opening batsman as its first honoree.
Kallicharran said they plan to kick off their work by staging two limited overs exhibition matches in Guyana, later this year, to recognize the career of Lyght. It will feature a number of past national players resident in North America, England and in the West Indies.
“I have already spoken to quite a few of these players who are willing to travel to Guyana, and are happy to do something for Andrew Lyght”, said Kallicharran.
He disclosed that the event is tentatively scheduled for late summer this year, following which a donation will be made to Light’s family. The DCC player died at age 44 in 2001 after playing 38 first class matches, scoring 2112 runs.
Kallicharran said the authorities in Guyana have been contacted and their full cooperation has been promised for the staging of the two games.
He added that the group is a nonprofit organization and its financial base will be built through fund raising activities, sponsorship and donations.
“There are a number of players around who need help so we have decided that those who are in a position to do something about it, can start now, said Kallicharan.
He pointed out that the plan is to honor one player every year.
