BCB/Dr Amarnauth Dukhi Trust Fund: 23 clubs receive cricket gear for youth development

…Foster bids goodbye to Berbice cricket

The Berbice Cricket Board on Saturday distributed millions of dollars’ worth of cricket gear to youth cricket clubs across the county in conjunction with famed Guyanese medical doctor Amarnath Dukhi. The presentation was done under the BCB/Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi Trust Fund, and was attended by representatives of the 23 clubs who benefitted from the donation of gear.
BCB President Dr. Cecil Beharry described the event as another red-letter day in the ongoing effort to develop the game in the Ancient County. Dr. Beharry, who replaced Hilbert Foster in December 2023 as BCB President, said the trust fund was developed when his predecessor, in October last year, met with Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi, a Berbican by birth and a strong follower of Berbice cricket. Mr. Foster and Dr Dukhi agreed to set up a fund to assist clubs to fulfill their mandate to youths.
The clubs receiving donation on Saturday are: Achievers CC, Cotton Tree CC, Police Sports Club, Bush Lot United Sports Club, Mt Sinai Cricket Club, Guymine Sports Club, East Bank Blazer, Tucber Park CC, Rose Hall Canje Community Center CC, Albion Community Center CC, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Port Mourant Community Center CC, Edinburgh Sports Club, Kendall’s Union Cricket Club, Whim Cricket Club, Scottsburg Cricket Club, Skeldon Community Center, Kildonan Cricket Club, Betsy Ground Cricket Club, #72 Cut and Load, #73 Young Warriors, and #69 Cricket Club.

The items handed over to the clubs comprised cricket balls, batting pads, batting gloves, wicket-keeping pads, wicket-keeping gloves, helmets, bat rubber and self-protection equipment like thigh pads, seed guards and forearm guards. Dr. Beharry expressed thanks to Dr. Dukhi for his timely assistance, and called on the benefactors to use the gear for the intended purpose.
Dr. Dukhi, a famous Neurosurgeon in Guyana, has said he is very pleased to assist in the development of the game in the county, as he is a proud Berbician. He said he agreed to Foster’s request without hesitation as he was aware of the progress of the game in the county with players like Shamar Joseph, Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair and Ashmini Munisar emerging from the grassroots.
He expressed thanks to his friends Ryan Perreira and Steven Shim for supporting him in the project, committed himself to supporting the administration of Dr. Beharry, and said he would sponsor two sports psychologists to work with promising youth players in Berbice to improve the mental aspect of their game. Dr. Dukhi also promised to assist with much needed coaching equipment in the future.
Former BCB President Hilbert Foster expressed delight at the presentation, and called Dr. Dukhi a true friend of Berbice Cricket. Foster noted that the Neurosurgeon had committed to sponsor major repairs to the No 69 ground, and has already sponsored the Berbice Under-15 Inter-Club tournament.
Meanwhile, Foster announced to the audience that, after the completion of the ceremony, he was quitting all appointed positions on the Berbice Cricket Board, as his main priorities were his club and regaining his full health. The former president was hospitalized last year for close to two months, and is currently attending therapy sessions in an attempt to regain full fitness.
He said he had given all he could to Berbice Cricket, and expressed confidence in the leadership skills of the present president. He resigned from being chairman of the Special Events Committee and member of the Competition and Marketing Committee.
BCB President Dr. Beharry expressed gratitude to Foster for his years of service to the BCB, and wished him well in the future.