The two people that bought the cap and bat of Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket captain, Daren Ganga will have to ensure that the items are properly secured in their homes. Donald Boodoo bought the cap for $35,000, and Neil Prashad walked away with the prized bat for $59,000. Both items were auctioned off on Tuesday night at Movie Towne where the Daren Ganga Foundation hosted a reception, and the premier showing of the movie, My Name is Khan, featuring Shah Rukh Khan. The who’s who in the local cricket industry were present as Ganga explained what was behind the formation of his Foundation.
Cricket commentator and journalist, Fazeer Mohammed, was the auctioneer. The bids opened for the cap, which according to Mohammed contained the sweat from the head of the cricket captain during the Airtel Champions Trophy tournament in India last year in which T&T finished second in its first international outing.

The place was buzzing with excitement as the bids opened, with the first person shouting $1,000, just shutting down those who wanted to open the bidding at $5. Slowly but surely, the bids increased with even allrounder Dwayne Bravo, bidding $12,000 for the cap. In the end, the highest bidder walked away with the cap, well protected in a glass case. The final figure was $35,000. With such a price for the cap, Mohammed anticipated a big figure for the bat, which was signed by the members of the T&T team which went to India. The bat was also in a glass case. The bids opened at $20,000 and at that stage, it seemed that $100,000 was going to be the final figure. At $59,000, Prashad, manager for Shah Rukh Khan, made the final bid and walked away with the bat.

Prashad, a Trinidadian, said he was pleased to be associated with the Ganga Foundation, but was disappointed that a chicken company, and not a local firm, came to the rescue of the T&T team in India last year. Giving support to Ganga on Tuesday night were his national team mates, Dwayne Bravo and Adrian Barath, President of the West Indies Players’ Association (Wipa), Dinanath Ramnarine, and first vice-president of the T&T Cricket Board, Dudnath Ramkeesoon. Even Opposition MPs, Roodal Moonial and Vasant Bharath were present as Ganga explained the need for the Foundation to assist the less fortunate children in his community, Barrackpore.