…BCB promises rewards for centuries and five-wicket hauls
“The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is very proud of each one of you, and we wish you great success on the cricket field as you wear the national colours. The BCB wants you to represent the legacy of Kanhai, Butcher and Kallicharran with pride, passion and commitment. Cricket is a team game, and I would like to urge you to always put the national interest first.
The Under-19 players posing with their stipends
“On behalf of the BCB, I want to reassure you of our support for each one of you, and please be assured that we would be there with you, every way on and off the cricket field”.
Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS, as he met with 13 Berbician cricketers at the Area H Ground prior to their leaving Berbice to represent Guyana in Cricket West Indies’ tournaments.
Seven of the players would be playing in the Under-19 tournament in St Vincent, while the remaining six would play in the Under-15 tournament in Grenada. The under-19 players are Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia, Isai Thorne, Zeymul Ramsammy, Rampertab Ramnauth and Tommani Caesar, while Ramzan Koobeer, Sohail Mohamed, Navin Boodwah, Adrian Hetmyer, Arif Khan and Romario Ramdeholl would play in Grenada for the Under-15 team.
Foster noted that, in 2022, a total of 33 Berbicians have gained selection at the national level for junior and female teams. This, he said, was of value for the BCB’s massive investments in tournaments, and its massive developmental programmes over the last four and a half years.
Additionally, several of its senior players have gained selection on the senior Guyana and West Indies teams, while another five would play in the upcoming CPL tournament.
Foster told the attentive youths that a good performance in the upcoming tournament would be a good kickstart to their career, and he urged that they be disciplined and focused at all times. He also told them to be their brothers’ keepers and look out for each other.
The popular BCB President also unveiled a performance benefit programme wherein every Berbice player who scores a century or takes five wickets would receive a financial reward from the board.
Each of these 13 players also received a financial stipend of ten thousand dollars [US50] from the BCB/Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme. The scheme is funded by Barbados- based Berbician Dr Singh. Under the scheme, every Berbician youth player who gains national selection would receive Gy$10,000.
Foster has, moreover, expressed gratitude to Dr Singh for his support to Berbice cricket.
