CPL idols departing cricket knowledge before tournament gets underway

Digicel and the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) toured the region for the Digicel Youth Cricket Series Coaching Clinics over the past three months, inspiring young cricketers and teaching them the finer points of the game. Students from six schools, one per participating CPL country, were coached by their local CPL coaches and got to meet and interact with a CPL player from their local team.

Starting with Barbados and then traveling to Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and finishing off in Guyana, approximately 360 students across the region had one on one time with their cricket idols as part of the Coaching Clinics.

Zishan Motara, from St. Michael School in Barbados was able to meet and learn from Jason Holder, captain of the Barbados Tridents. “I learnt a lot and I believe my bowling and catching improved. I’m really glad for this opportunity and I want to thank Digicel and Jason Holder,” Motara said.

Tari Lovell, Group Sponsorship Manager at Digicel said, “Watching the kids interact with their favourite cricket heroes reinforced to us just how important it is that we continue to invest in budding talent across the region.

They were inspired and motivated hearing from the cricketers first hand. Jason Holder for example was able to work with his alma mater, St. Michael School, as the school that had won the coaching session in Barbados.

During the 2018 CPL competition period, each participating country will host a fun, informal game of cricket with the players and coaches and twenty children from a local cricket club and/or special needs organisation with an active cricket programme.

These children will get to meet and play with their favourite CPL stars while learning the best cricket techniques.

Across the Caribbean cricket fans, young and old, come together to celebrate ‘the biggest party in sport’ and cheer for their local teams.

Since 2013, Digicel and the CPL have worked together to cultivate the carnival atmosphere that has made CPL approachable and exciting for so many.

Digicel has also played a fundamental role in bringing CPL to a wider audience through their mobile, social and television platforms across the region. Fans of the game can download PlayGo for free and tune into the dedicated CPL channel to watch live coverage of the 2018 tournament and past CPL games.

Last Saturday, Windies spinner Devendra Bishoo told youngsters at the 2018 Digicel/Hero CPL Youth Cricket Series Coaching Clinic at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC); to never stop pursuing their dreams to become cricketers.

Bishoo, a Digicel and CPL Brand Ambassador, was the star of the clinic held where students of the West Demerara Secondary School benefited from tips by the Test player.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors spinner said “It’s always an honour to share my knowledge and turn up to these events because I was once like them”, as he told stories about his struggles coming up in his early years as a junior cricketer with little resources. He spoke on times when he carried bags for other cricketers and ran water for the team before receiving the same treatment years later after he made strides.

A humble Bishoo reminded the students that the dedication they apply in school is similar to what is needed when pursuing a career as a professional cricketer. The Berbician related with many of the students and teachers who quizzed him on numerous questions regarding his hard times in cricket; as well as his shining moments.

With just a few more days to go before the 2018 Hero CPL gets underway (from 8 August to 16 September), Guyana’s leg of the tournament will commence on August 9, with tickets for the first three matches to be played at the Providence stadium currently on sale.