BCB benefits from new pitch covers as cricket development continues in the Ancient County

Despite the coronavirus crisis affecting global sport, the vibrant Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is using the off-season to strengthen its capacity to further develop cricket and also make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
With the Berbice cricket season closed since late February, the BCB office has also been closed, but the staff is still being paid. The BCB is currently hosting a coronavirus food hamper drive along with 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), to distribute 500-600 hampers to less fortunate families across Berbice as well as face masks in its efforts to combat the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, the BCB is also on the verge of creating a Berbice cricket flag and emblem as it forges ahead with its vision. The flag would be flown at all BCB cricket finals and events while the emblem would also be placed on all BCB souvenirs, including inter-county caps, T-Shirts, and cups.
In another major development, the BCB has received two pitch covers. The covers are 50 feet each with a width of 20 feet and will be stored at the Albion Cricket Ground on a full-time basis. The donation was made possible with the assistance of former BCB President Anil Beharry, who obtained support via his Friends of Berbice Cricket programme. Those making donations were Noreen Gaskin of Sentinel Security, Tyler and Mia, Kalvin Somrah, Renwick Beharry, Raj Rebhel Mathura, Ian Bhagwandhin and Khemraj Tageram.
A delighted Foster stated that the policy of his board was to become self-reliant in an effort to cut operational costs, so that more funds can be pumped into developmental programmes, such as coaching. With the BCB now having its own cricket covers, the Competition Committee would now be in a better position to organise semi-finals and finals at traditional venues, where there might be no covers.
Under Foster’s leadership, the BCB has organised semis and finals at non-traditional venues like Fyrish, No 69, Cotton Tree, No 72 Cut and Load and Hampshire in an effort to promote the game at the grassroot level, and this would be expanded when the cricket season restarts later in the year. Since the election of the Foster-led administration, the BCB has also undertaken the complete restoration of its New Amsterdam head office and obtained items for the smooth operation of its business. The BCB hopes in the future to purchase its own vehicle, construct a modern indoor cricket facility, and host a Premier Professional League for its cricketers. The President expressed gratitude to the contributors to the Friends of Berbice Cricket Fund and reassured them that the covers would be taken care of. The first iteration of the fund in 2018 raised $830,000, which was used to purchase cricket balls for clubs across the county.