Windies sponsor employs youth cricketers

The 11 youth cricketers, including a member of the West Indies Women’s Team, assist Digicel’s event management team with branding the Kensington Oval, distributing promotional items, managing Digicel’s perimeter boards, and any other tasks that arise during the Digicel Test and Digicel Twenty20.

Among them is 19-year-old Shakira Selman who is an all-rounder and one of four Barbadians selected to be a part of the West Indies Women’s Team which is preparing to go on tour to Ireland, England and Scotland shortly. During the Digicel Test in the Kensington Oval, Shakira had the chance to meet legendary West Indies players, fast bowler Andy Roberts and spin bowler Lance Gibbs, while working for Digicel, an experience she will not soon forget.

“It was amazing to meet Mr Roberts and Mr Gibbs,” said Selman. “I don’t think I would have had the opportunity if I was not working behind the scenes at cricket.”

Junior Grimes, 22, and an all-rounder for Wonders Cricket Club, has worked with the Digicel team since the company began its sponsorship of the West Indies in 2004.

A mechanical technician, Grimes took vacation from his job so that he could work at cricket. “I enjoy working with Digicel,” says Grimes. “It is a great experience for me because I like planning and organising so I get to watch cricket and develop my management skills at the same time.”

Corey Bailey, 22 and Captain of the BRCBCL team agrees with Selman, saying that one of the things he loves the most about his job is getting to watch cricket and helping out at the ground. “I have enjoyed every moment of this experience,” says Bailey.

“Everything is so well organised, and we work well together as a team. It has been very interesting to see how things work behind the actual cricket. There is a lot of work to be done for a match to happen, and I am glad I got to be a part of it all.”

“Our youth cricket employment programme, which we started in 2005, is a huge success, and we are pleased that we are able to offer these young people an opportunity to get exposure to West Indies cricket and earn some money at the same time,” said Ciara Ryan, Digicel Group Sponsorship Manager. “The team is well-mannered, hardworking and is really enjoying the opportunity to work at cricket. They play a very important part in our team at the Digicel Home Series.”

The Digicel Twenty20 began at 2pm on Friday, 20 June. For all the latest images, news reports, competitions and information on the Digicel Home Series 2008, log on to www.digicelcricket.com.