(L-R) Chaluk Richards, General Manager of GraceKennedy General Insurance; Kareem Tomlinson, Managing Director of GK Investment; Willford Heaven, President of the Jamaica Cricket Association; Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of Cricket West Indies; Keith Wellington, President of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA); and Radcliffe Daley, President and CEO of First Global Bank at the launch of the ISSA/Grace Shield held at GraceKennedy HQ in Kingston.
GraceKennedy (GK) has announced its renewed sponsorship of the 2024 Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Grace Shield under-19 cricket competition.
The sponsorship is being undertaken by GK General Insurance (GKGI) and First Global Bank (FGB) and is valued at approximately J$9 million.
GK’s sponsorship of the ISSA Grace Shield began in 2001.
GK Group CEO Don Wehby commented, “Our longstanding support of schoolboy cricket in Jamaica is a part of our long-term commitment to our youth, our schools, sports development and our country.
This competition is the gold standard, and we see it as a great way to give back to our community, help develop future cricket stars and contribute to a sport that impacts so many Jamaicans in a positive way.”
Speaking at the competition’s media launch held at GraceKennedy’s headquarters in Kingston today, President of FGB, Radcliffe Daley explained, “For over a decade, First Global Bank has been a proud supporter of cricket in Jamaica, fostering youth talent and promoting the sport at the grassroots level. Our belief in the significance of the sport is why we've partnered with ISSA, committing to 'go further together' in developing our athletes at every stage of their journey.”
Daley added, “Our commitment extends beyond the field; we invest in programmes that provide educational and life-skill opportunities for young athletes.”
This year’s staging of the ISSA Grace Shield and Headley Cup will run from January 26 to April 30 and will see the participation of 43 schools from across the island, 28 in the Headley Cup and 15 in the Grace Shield.
Action in both competitions gets underway on Tuesday with four matches in the Headley Cup and three in the Grace Shield.
In the Grace Shield, St. Jago will play Ardenne, Jonathan Grant will face Wolmer’s Boys and Bridgeport will face Norman Manley while in the Headley Cup, Ocho Rios will play Ferncourt, Herbert Morrison will play Browns Town, Green Pond will take on York Castle and Cambridge will play Cornwall College,
Chaluk Richards, General Manager, GKGI, commented, “At GK General Insurance, we believe in the transformative power of sports. We are excited to support a competition that not only promotes healthy competition but also brings together schools, communities, and families in a celebration of talent, hard work, and sportsmanship.”
Richards concluded, “We look forward to witnessing the incredible talent that our schools have to offer, the spirited matches, and the camaraderie that this competition will foster.”
Andre Russell ventures into Bollywood music scene with SRK's support
West Indies and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell is set to make waves in Bollywood, following in the footsteps of Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, who achieved success with his hit song 'Champion' in India.
Known for adding energy and entertainment to the dressing room, West Indian cricketers have a history of making their mark beyond the cricket field, with stars like Chris Gayle, DJ Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy shining in the IPL. The latest to join this list is Andre Russell, the dynamic KKR sensation.
Russell is stepping into the music world by lending his vocals to a song composed by Palaash Muchhal. He will also be featured alongside actress Avika Gor in the accompanying music video.
What makes Russell's foray into music even more exciting is the backing of Bollywood titan Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. Known for his larger-than-life persona, SRK is not just a team owner but also a key figure in the entertainment industry. Russell and SRK share a strong camaraderie, often seen enjoying each other's company and having fun moments together.
Recently, a video of Russell singing SRK's iconic song "Lut Put Gaya" from the movie 'Dunki' went viral, showcasing his passion for music. With SRK's support and Russell's infectious energy, fans can anticipate an exciting collaboration between the cricket star and the Bollywood icon.
Andre Russell's venture into Bollywood music adds a new dimension to his versatile talents and promises to be a delightful treat for his fans in India and across the globe.
IPL: Kumar the hero as Sunrisers stun Royals for final-ball win
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero as Sunrisers Hyderabad came back from the brink to secure a final-ball win over Indian Premier League leaders Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.
Kumar left the Royals reeling at 1-2 as they chased 202 for victory, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for first-over ducks, flattening middle wicket to send the latter walking five balls in.
A 127-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag then seemed to have the Royals closing in on a fifth straight win, only for their chase to unravel in spectacular fashion.
Two wickets apiece from Thangarasu Natarajan and Pat Cummins left the Royals needing 20 runs off 11 balls, and Rovman Powell came up with a thrilling cameo, the highlight being an unbelievable dive to avoid being run out on the penultimate delivery, which took Rajasthan within two runs of victory and one of a super over.
However, there was one more twist to come as Powell swung at Kumar's full toss, which clipped his back leg and was confirmed as out following a review, sealing a memorable win for Sunrisers.
The Sunrisers had also found themselves in a hole in their own innings, only for Nitish Kumar Reddy (76) and Heinrich Klaasen (42) to finish unbeaten and bring up a total they were just about able to defend.
Data Debrief: Kumar bookends back-and-forth innings
For much of the Rajasthan innings, it looked like Kumar's early dismissals of Buttler and Samson would count for nought, with some expensive overs from Cummins and Marco Jansen leaving the Royals on the brink.
However, Kumar stepped up when it was all on the line on the final delivery, leaving Powell in a tangle to end Hyderabad's two-match losing streak and lift them into the top four.
Pakistan bowlers shine to hand West Indies first loss of tour in fourth T20I
West Indies Women suffered their first loss on their tour of Pakistan as the hosts secured an eight-wicket win in the fourth T20 International at the Karachi National Stadium on Thursday.
Excellent Pakistan bowling meant the tourists were restricted to just 84-9 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Shemaine Campbelle (26), Zaida James (19) and Jannilea Glasgow (10) were the only West Indian batters to get double-figures as Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar dominated with 3-18 from four overs and 3-19 from four overs, respectively.
Pakistan then needed only 16.3 overs to reach 87-2 and secure their first win of the series. Ayesha Zafar led the way with 42* off 48 balls while Gull Feroza finished 21* off 24 balls.
Afy Fletcher and Shamilia Connell took a wicket, each, for the Windies.
Full Scores: West Indies Women 84-9 (Shemaine Campbelle 26, Sadia Iqbal 3-18, Nida Dar 3-19)
Pakistan Women 87-2 (Ayesha Zafar 42*, Gull Feroza 21*, Afy Fletcher 1-6, Shamilia Connell 1-8)
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