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All the top performers with representatives of Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction

Present at the tournament was Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandalall, who said:

“On behalf of the government of Guyana, I would like to extend a merry Christmas to everyone. I want to thank ‘Panko’ for sponsoring and organising this event; it is truly a kind gesture. Sports are extremely important to the development agenda of our government, as they keep young people occupied in a beneficial and gainful manner. It is a high-priority item on our government’s agenda. The LGC is public property, and the government will do all that we can to ensure that this facility is kept intact.”

Winner of the Putting competition Christine Sukhram (left) receives her prize from CEO of Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction, Amisha Ramsundar

Representing Panko Steel was CEO Amisha Ramsundar, who thanked the golfers for their strong turnout. She also mentioned that the tournament will be an annual event on the LGC golfing calendar.

Ramsundar explained that it had always been Panko’s dream to give back to the Lusignan community, and through his hard work and dedication, it has become a reality.

Lakeram ‘Panko’ Ramsundar (left) of Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction presets a flat screen television to one of the winners

In addition to the tournament, hundreds of children were provided with gifts, food, and had the opportunity to play on the trampoline and bouncy castle.

A raffle was also held, and both golfers and workers walked away with hampers and brand new flat-screen televisions.

Persons also won hampers at the event

The results for the tournament were as follows:

Overall

1^st– Romel Bhagwandin and Robin Tiwari

2^nd– Maurice Solomon and Rabindranath Persaud

3^rd– Rakesh Harry and Ravindra Harry

4^th– Arnol Deo and Joseph John

5^th– Mike Mangal and Rohan Albert

6^th– Sonto Dindanauth and Nicholas Dindanauth

Longest Drive – Nicholas Dindanauth

Closest to Pin – Ryan Dindanauth

Chipping Competition

1^st– Naro Ghanpat

2^nd– Maurice Solomon

3^rd– Jaipaul Seenarine

Putting Competition

1^st– Christine Sukhram

2^nd– Rohan Albert

3^rd– Kassim Khan

Most honest golfers– Vishal Changur and Ryan Dindanauth

Pat Cummins says there is no difference between Usman Khawaja displaying a dove logo on his shoe and bat to raise awareness of humanitarian issues and teammate Marnus Labuschagne displaying an eagle on his bat which signifies a personal religious message, after the ICC denied Khawaja’s application to display the logo during the Boxing Day Test.

Khawaja made an application to the ICC to display a small dove holding an olive branch on his shoe and bat during the Test match which is a reference to article one of the Universal declaration of Human Rights that reads, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

But despite being cleared by Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association to display it, the ICC denied his application with an ICC spokesperson stating that, “Personal messages of this nature are not allowed as per Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page. The ICC is supportive of players using their platforms outside of the playing arena to promote human rights, peace and equality and would encourage him to continue to use alternative platforms.”

Usman Khawaja: “I will respect (the International Cricket Council’s) view and decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval.”

Labuschagne displays the symbol of an eagle on the back of his bats which represents a verse from the bible and has long been allowed to have the sticker on his bat in international cricket.

Almost every player in the Australian team, including Khawaja, also have multiple advertising stickers on their bats that represent different companies including their bat/equipment sponsor and a secondary personal sponsor, which are allowed under ICC rules.

Speaking on Christmas Day, 24 hours out from the start of the second Test against Pakistan at the MCG, Cummins said he saw no difference between Labuschagne displaying a religious reference and Khawaja’s attempt to display a logo referring to the Universal declaration of Human Rights.

“Not really, no – I don’t know the ins and outs of the application, but I think it is pretty vanilla, a dove,” Cummins said.

“We really support Uzzy, I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully.

“All lives are equal and I don’t think that’s very offensive, and I’d say the same about the dove. That’s Uzzy. He can hold his head high the way he’s gone about it, but there’s rules in place, so I believe the ICC have said they’re not going to approve that. They make up the rules and you’ve got to accept it.”

Australia captain Pat Cummins

The ruling has raised the ire of former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding who has accused the ICC of double standards.

“If it had been most other organisations that showed some semblance of consistency with their attitude and behaviour on issues I could claim surprise, but not them,” Holding told the Weekend Australian.

“Once again they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation.”

Khawaja was charged by the ICC with breaching the same Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations after wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.

He said he would challenge the charge having told the governing body it was for a “personal bereavement” but added that he won’t continue to wear one in the MCG Test.

Khawaja wore the armband having initially planned to take the field with writing on his shoes which he had worn in training stating “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Speaking at the MCG last Friday, Khawaja said that he did not believe ICC were implementing their own regulations consistently.

“They asked me on day two [in Perth] what it was for and told them it was for a personal bereavement,” he said of the armband.

“I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a different matter, I’m happy to say that. The armband makes no sense to me. I followed all the regulations, past precedents, guys that put stickers on their bats, names on their shoes, done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded.

“I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations they have. I will be asking them and contesting they make it fair and equitable for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That consistency hasn’t been done yet. I was very open and honest with that. I’ll deal with that with the ICC.”

There was no official statement when Khawaja wore the armband on the first day in Perth, but at the time it was understood to be in relation to the video he had posted on social media after being told he could not show the messages on his shoes. (ESPNcricinfo)