BEST'S BENEVOLENCE: Tino Best (centre) with Akeem Mason (left) and Aaron Burke to whom he presented cricket gear.

by EZRA STUART

A WEST INDIAN CRICKETER was at his benevolent best yesterday morning, presenting cricket gear to two promising players from his alma mater.

Fresh from his debut stint in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), effervescent fastbowler Tino Best had a telling run-up to the wicket when he visited Garrison Secondary School on the first day of the new term.

Akeem Mason, a lanky left-arm fast bowler, and all-rounder Aaron Burke, both fifth-formers, were the beneficiaries.

Six-footer Mason, the most improved bowler during last year's Goddards Schools Division received a pair of Nike bowling boots, while Burke, who scored 516 runs and captured 22 wickets in the competition, was presented with a new Gunn and Moore bat and batting gloves.

"I thought it was a good opportunity to give back to my school. I think that [principal] Mr [Matthew] Farley is doing
a great job. Hopefully, this presentation will inspire the young cricketers, as people are thinking about their development as young sportsmen and of young people in general."

The 26-year-old Best also addressed the school during morning assembly and was greeted by thunderous applause from the children.

Most important

"The three most important things in life are God, a good education and your family," Best said as he told the children that they have a bright future.

"Life is no game, just keep working hard at your academics and make yourself, your school and community proud of your achievements," Best advised.

"It is good to give back because we, as professional athletes have during our career, also received a lot of equipment from sponsors. Obviously, if we see youngsters doing well, rather than just have gear lying about at home, it is good
to give because you just never know. It may change their life," Best said.

Best is sponsored by Nike in the ICL.

He played in five Twenty20 matches for Mumbai Champs, which was captained by former West Indies batting star Brian Lara, but had modest returns capturing three wickets but impressed with his 90-miles-per-hour deliveries.

Lara missed the initial tournament because of a broken wrist.

"It is the most professional set-up that I have ever played in. The whole approach and set up in terms of sponsorship, equipment, training facilities, grounds, medical personnel, the coaching staff, were just phenomenal," Best said.

His team was coached by former India batsman Sandeep Patel.

"The atmosphere at games was great. There was a lot more pressure and intensity than playing in the Stanford Twenty20. The crowds were bigger than those at Stanford. Every team had five international players."

Hyderbad Heroes, captained by former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, won the tournament, beating Lahore Bashers, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, in the final.

The Bashers included the likes of Rana Naveed, Imran Nazir, Saqlain Mustaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Tufeez Omar and Imran Farhat.

The next tournament will get under way in late September but before that, Best leaves Barbados in May for England where he will play in the Staffordshire League for Leek Cricket Club and also represent the Lashings World XI.