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Top
Athletes! Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport
Dr Frank Anthony poses with Guyana’s top
male and female sports personalities
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Alika Morgan in the
arrival lounge of the Cheddi Jagan
International Airport Timehri. (Adrian
Narine photo)
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Chanderpaul
was named the International Cricket Council’s (ICC)
cricketer of the year.
He
was also the recipient of the West Indies Players’
Association Player-of-the-year award and for the fifth
successive year Guyana’s Sportsman-of-the-year
accolade.
Dave_Martin_Trade_Winds
Chanderpaul,
who has been the rock of the West Indian batting
lineup for the past three years will be awarded on
Friday evening at the National Cultural Centre.
Against
India
Chanderpaul,
who is revered for his dogged determination and his
extensive spells of concentration made his debut in
1994 against England. To date, he has played 119
matches, amassing 8 502 runs at an average of 50.01
with 21 centuries and 52 half-centuries and 32 not-out
innings.
‘Tiger’,
as he is called, also has the distinction of having
three 1 000-minute vigils at the crease without being
dismissed - the highest being over 1 500 minutes.
Chanderpaul has been noted to ‘grind’ opposing
bowlers’ patience thin especially if it meant
ensuring a win for the West Indies team.
Chanderpaul
stated that it was an honour to be awarded by the ICC
for his achievement. He stated that he has worked very
hard over the years for his team and he also feels
good that he can please the fans of WI cricket.
In
the recently concluded Digicel Test Series Chanderpaul
scored 299 runs at an average of 48.66, and his
highest score was 104. Poor umpiring decisions also
can be used for his poor showing in the tournament.
Meanwhile,
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony stated that he was
pleased that the ICC recognised Chanderpaul for his
great achievement. He went on to state that Guyana and
the Government are pleased to have such a sportsman as
a great ambassador.
Devi-Sari-Queen
Chanderpaul-Sarwan
and Ganga
“Chanderpaul
has put Guyana on the map and it shows that if people
work hard then they can achieve anything and I would
therefore like to commend him for his dedication and
discipline,” the Honourable Minister explained.
The
minister was also loud in his praise of another
prolific Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan who
produced some classy knocks in the tournament and in
the lone Twenty20 game of the series.
“I’m
proud of our Guyanese and West Indies in particular
and since Sarwan has been in rich form throughout the
tournament I hope he continues to bat the way he is
doing at the moment,” Minister Anthony said
glowingly.
Sarwan
has amassed 626 runs at an average of 104.33 with his
highest score being 291.
Tuesday,
March 17, 2009
