Chris Gayle ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA:
Following calls by West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, his teammate and opening batsman Chris Gayle urged parents to lend greater support to their children who are involved in cricket.
Gayle echoed Sarwan's call while speaking at the closing ceremony of the Digicel Cricket Coaching Clinic on Monday at the Falmouth Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Kids will achieve more
"I want to urge the parents who are here and those who are not here to continue to support their children, with their support the kids would be able to achieve much more and possibly make a career out of cricket," Gayle said.
Sarwan had made similar calls in his home country of Guyana at the end of the Digicel Cricket Coaching Clinic in that country just over a week ago.
"I want to urge (the parents) to continue supporting the youngster because with their support they can go a far way in the game, the support of the parents is very important," Sarwan had said.
Gayle said he was pleased to be a part of the region-wide initiative to assist with youth development.
"I have to thank Digicel forputting on these clinics, it has been a success across the region and we hope it can be done again in the future," Gayle said.
The last of the region-wide Digicel clinics ended in Antigua on Monday and several of the young players picked up prizes for their outstanding performances.
Regis Burton, a right hander from Lightfoot St. George's, won the most outstanding batsman's award. Kumar Samuels, a leg spinner from Swetes, the same village where legendary former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs originated, won the prize for most outstanding bowler.
Eleven-year-old Avier Christian from Liberta Village took home an autographed bat for emerging as the most outstanding fielder, while Peter Abraham Jr., the Leeward Islands Under 15 captain, won a similar prize for being the most outstanding wicketkeeper.
The coaches in the clinic, Kenny Benjamin, Keith Arthurton, Lance Gibbs, Gayle and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul determined the winners, having observed the players over the course of the three-day clinic and during 10-over games played on the final day.
Nickel Didier was awarded the special prize - a bat autographed by the entire West Indies team - for being the lone female participant to complete the clinic.
All the participants received an autographed photograph, a certificate and a Digicel gift pack for successfully completing the clinic.
Clinics were also held in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
