BCB hosted 32 tournaments in another successful year

While the rest of Guyana continues to suffer from turmoil in their cricket, the Ancient County of Berbice has hailed 2019 as a very successful year, with progress being made at all levels.

After a two-year period of being dormant, the Berbice Cricket Board, under the current administration of Hilbert Foster, MS, has spearheaded a revival of cricket across Berbice.
BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, in a review, has described 2019 as a year in which expectations on and off the cricket field were surpassed. He disclosed that 32 tournaments were launched at all levels, and numerous programmes — including developmental ones — were hosted, while young cricketers and cricket clubs continued to receive assistance on an unmatched level.
Naidu and Foster have hailed the 80th Anniversary celebrations of the BCB; restoration of the BCB’s New Amsterdam Office; the long-overdue return of inter-county cricket to Berbice, and the hosting of a two-day first division tournament as highlights of the year.
The BCB hosted 32 tournaments at U-13, U-15, U-17, U-19, U-21, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Inter-Village, Second Division, Secondary Schools, Primary Schools and First Division levels. The BCB has been able to successfully complete most of these tournaments despite a four-month-long rainy season that lasted up to the beginning of September.

After an absence of 15 years, the BCB was also able to obtain a $2M sponsorship for a two-day tournament, which is currently being played by eight teams.
Among the tournaments the BCB has already staged are: the Trophy Stall Under 13, Mike’s Pharmacy Under 15, Ramnaresh Sarwan Under 17, New York Business Group Under 19, Elizabeth Styles Under 21, NBS Second Division, Berbice Riverain 30 overs, Let’s Bet Sports 20/20, Goosai Memorial 100 balls, Stag Beer 50 Overs, Ivan Madray 20/20 Memorial, Busta 40 Overs, GBTI Inter- Secondary, Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate, UCCA Inter- Primary, and Friends of Cricket 100 balls.
At the inter-county level, Berbice won both the female title and the two-day Under 19 tournaments. Over forty-five Berbicians represented Guyana or other Caribbean teams in Cricket West Indies tournaments. They include players like Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Umroa, Seon Glasgow, Marvon Prashad, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Tameshwar Mohabir, Isiah Thorne, Zeynul Ramsammy, Veersammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Clinton Pestano.
At the female level, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi joined Shemaine Campbelle on the West Indies Female Senior team as the massive investment into female cricket by the RHTY&SC continues to bear fruits for the Ancient County.
Five Berbicians played in the 2019 CPL, while Shimron Hetmyer played in the IPL. Off the cricket field, the BCB hosted numerous developmental programmes and activities. They included Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme, Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy, Brian Ramphal Annual Awards Ceremony, Inter-County Cap System, Inter-County MVP, Inter-County Player of the Match, Dr. Puran Singh National Players Financial Scheme, Honouring of Inter- County Champions, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Retired Players, Youth Information Booklet, Dare to Dream, Educational Posters, Television Programmes, Mother of the Year, Father of the Year, UCCA Cricket Academy, A 256-page 80th Anniversary Book, School Educational Competitions, BCB Cricketers Hall of Fame, BCB Administrators Hall of Fame, Berbice Greatest Cricketers, and Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Wall of Fame, among others.
The BCB also assisted clubs, youth players and schools with over $5M worth of stumps, water pitchers cricket gear, raincoats, bicycles, trophies, medals, educational materials, scorebooks, school bags and bottled water.
The BCB, moreover, raised one hundred thousand dollars to assist Ms. Ruthel Henry to construct her own home, while President Hilbert Foster spearheaded a highly successful 80th Anniversary celebration during the month of September.
Restoration works done at the BCB office included repainting of the building, sealing of the roof, titling of the floor, obtaining more than $400,000 worth of furniture; and acquiring a television set, DVD Player, electric fans, desktop computer, water dispenser, kitchen utensils, facsimile machine and cordless telephone, among other things.
The publication of the first ever Youth Information Booklet for youth cricketers in the Caribbean was also another major achievement for the anniversary.
The BCB, via an aggressive marketing drive led by its hardworking President, was able to raise close to $12M in 2019 alone, and has already acquired some major sponsorship for 2020.
The board also presented its highest award, Tribute to a Hero, to Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Brian Ramphal and Dr. Puran Singh during the year, while it has been named the Berbice Sports Organisation of the Year by the Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Committee.
The hard work of the BCB President also saw the return of inter-county cricket to Berbice after an absence of over a decade. Isiah Thorne and Rampertab Ramnauth were also presented with a cricket bat as the BCB honoured them on their selection to the West Indies Under 15.
To round off a successful year for Berbice Cricket, Lower Corentyne won the Guyana Cricket Board Franchise league at the 50 overs level.
President Foster, who was returned for another term of two years in a 31-0 vote at the BCB AGM on December 22nd, has unveiled some major plans for the 2020-2021 period. They include construction of an all-weather practice centre, setting up of a professional league by December 2021, holding at least 20 tournaments per year, expanded coaching programmes, acquiring covers for BCB, to assist deserving clubs with gear, balls, scorebooks; and to lobby Cricket West Indies for the return of first-class cricket to Berbice.