Shivnarine Chanderpaul is now the Patron of the revived Sam Jattan Youth Cricket League (SJYCL).
The former West Indies captain, in Trinidad to play some charity matches commended the members of the league while attending the annual general meeting on Sunday last at Pierre Road, Chaguanas.
He praised the league for putting their house in order and encouraged them to help young cricketers with proper coaching and personal development.
The evergreen cricketer, still active as a Guyana player and mentor, said he will take a personal interest in the future of the league and will assist by building bridges between the league and other regional organizations in which he is involved.
Keith Joseph, who was elected president of the league, explained to the more than 25 members present that the formerly dormant league was now legally registered and incorporated as a non-profit organization with its own constitution and an updated membership list.
He emphasized that the SJYCL was no longer a "ghost league" and would now be able to promote and develop the young talented cricketers within the Central communities.
The SJYCL is an affiliate of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) at the Central Zone.
The new executive
comprises
Keith Joseph � President
Mannoo Bridglal � Vice President
Emile Pollard � Secretary
Richard Sieuchan � Treasurer
Terrence Vialva � Assistant Secretary
All about milk,
bat and ball
One young man it seems was born to play cricket. Two-year old Aayan Qureshi hits over 100 balls a day and makes sure everyone around him plays the game.
The youngster started off saying mummy and daddy and his word was 'big shot'. He gets up according to his father Mahammad Qureshi and the first thing he wants is his bat. "Everyday this boy gets up, calls for his milk and then heads off in search of his bat.
He then goes to anyone around him and asks them to bowl to him. He hits over 100 balls a day and every shot he plays, he calls it a big shot.
His love for cricket came about as a result of going to the MAQ cricket ground in Fort Lauderdale. He sat quietly, looked at the cricket and then started to take up everything to hit the ball.
"Even big men get tired bowling to him, as he has never ending energy." Aayan was used at the finals of the US Open T20 tournament to present the coin to the captains.
As if he understood what was going on, he calmly walked up and presented the coin to former Pakistani player Hassan Raza and stood still waiting on the coin to stop rolling. He then rushed off and got his bat, looking for a bowler in the crowd.
Aayan has caused many headaches, as he tries to get cricket played everywhere he goes.
His father ordered 20 bats and distributed it amongst family members in case he goes to their home, he can play cricket.
"He gets very cranky and wants to go home if he does not get to play cricket. He wants to play all the time and would bat all day if there is someone willing to bowl to him.
"What is amazing about him is the fact that he looks at cricket and if the batsman misses the ball, he says nothing. If on the other hand the ball is struck hard, he yells out 'big shot'. I am sure he would continue to play the game and hopefully make it big one day."
SSCL bowls
off today
The 2017 Secondary Schools cricket league will bowl off today at 9 am at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva.
Following the official opening cermonies will be the popular Super Sixes which normally kickstarts the campaign.
The league gets off next Tuesday with Naparima Boys' College coming up against arrackpore West Secondary School at Lewis Street in San Fernando.
Other games on the day will see Trinity College East battling Hillview College, Shiva Boys Hindu College against Presentation College Chaguanas and Fatima College against Carapichaima East Secondary School.
President of the SSCL Surujdath Mahabir says that he is looking forward to another great year in 2017. We have been trying new things in the Secondary Schools set up over the last few years and it has worked wonderfully well.
We will continue to make this league a very dynamic one and continue to provide excellent cricket for all representative national teams.