BCB distributes $1M in white balls to 1st-Division clubs

…Coaches receive $300,000 worth of coloured uniforms

“In the history of Guyana cricket, no cricket board has invested as the Berbice Cricket Board has done for the last five years. We have not only organised cricket at all levels and developmental programmes, but we have assisted every single club in the county to fulfil their mandate to produce players for the county and country. This donation today is another major red-letter day for the county as we move on into the 2023 First Division season.”
Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster as he addressed a simple presentation ceremony at the Board’s office on Thursday to hand over $1 million worth of white balls to the First Division clubs in the county.

The donation of the cricket balls was done under the Patron Fund, which is financed by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who serves as Patron of the vibrant cricket Board. The clubs receiving the donation were West Berbice, Blairmont, Police, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Albion, RHTY&SC, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne and Skeldon. They each collected five boxes of balls worth $75,000 while the Berbice River Cricket Association got two boxes and the Guymine Cricket Club one box.
Foster noted that this was the second successive year that the clubs have benefited from $1 million in white balls while the Second Division would shortly receive another million dollars’ worth of red balls under another project. Foster urged the clubs to use the balls for the intended purpose and to support the Board as much as possible. He also disclosed that as part of the Board’s assistance to clubs, it has managed to obtain six bowling machines, over 24 practice nets, five batting cages, and 20 catching cribs.
Clubs, over the past five years, have also received cricket gear, educational grants, scorebooks, water pitchers, grass cutters, cricket uniforms, bicycles, and protective gear among others. Foster, who has been the board President since 2018, expressed thanks to the BCB Patron for his assistance under the Fund. The BCB President stated that his administration understood the financial burden that clubs endure to play the game and was delighted to assist as much as possible. Foster noted that as BCB President, he has been working very hard to make a positive difference as he was determined to lift the game higher.
He recalled that on his election in February 2018, he committed to making sure that the Ancient County produce 10 West Indies players at all levels in five years. The county has since produced 12 players at the junior and senior levels, including Isai Thorne, Sheneeta Grimmond, Shakabi Gajnabi, Rampertab Ramnauth, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, and Kevlon Anderson. Additionally, several exciting talents have burst on to the scene including Shamar Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Junior Sinclair, and Jonathan Rampersaud.
The BCB has invested heavily in a massive coaching programme which has seen the presence of Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh, Roland Butcher, Jimmy Adams, Dr Desmond Haynes, Reon King, Sheik Mohamed, Nolan Mckenzie and Clyde Butts working with youths in the county.

Foster also unveiled plans for the hosting of several tournaments at the First-Division level along with cricket at the Second Division and female level over the next six months as part of a massive development effort. Clubs in the county would also be allowed one non-Berbician to play at the First- Division level while plans for three academies were also announced for West Berbice, Upper Corentyne and Berbice. Clubs expressed their gratitude to the BCB and the Patron for the cricket balls.
The Board also used the opportunity to distribute $300,000 worth of coloured uniforms to the 20 Coaches attached to its developmental programme.
The Coaches are based in the West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne areas. Foster urged the coaches to redouble their efforts to accomplish the task at hand and to work hard to make sure that every talent is given the opportunity to grow. He stated that his administration would not tolerate indiscipline and laziness from people who only want to use the system for their own benefit. The BCB boss expressed thanks to former national player Sheik Mohamed for his donation of the uniforms.