BCB launches $1M Zamal Hussain Trust Fund for Youth Cricketers

…Region 6 Vice Chairman hails Foster’s outstanding leadership

With a long list of activities and achievements to its credit, the Berbice Cricket Board is widely considered as the most active and progressive cricket board in the Caribbean. Under the presidency of Hilbert Foster, the BCB has hosted hundreds of developmental projects and programmes in its ongoing effort to lift the standard of the game, especially among the youths.
Last Sunday, August 27, the BCB launched another programme that would benefit youths across Regions 5 and 6. Foster and Region 6 Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain met in a special meeting after the presentation ceremony of the BCB/Minister Zulfikar Mustapha Under-15 Final at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground. In that short meeting, an agreement was reached for the establishment of the Zamal Hussain Berbice Cricket Trust Fund.
Under that fund, the Vice Chairman would raise $1M towards assisting twenty-four (24) youths in the county with much-needed cricket gear. Each of the 24 players would receive a pair of batting pads, batting gloves and a bat.
Foster announced that the players would be selected from all five zones in the county – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Berbice River, Lower/Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. The BCB President stated that the players would be selected by a special committee headed by Junior Selection Chairman Balram Samaroo. They would be selected based on potential, talent, personal discipline, and commitment to the game.
Foster expressed gratitude to Vice-Chairman Hussain for his support of the game. He noted that the main objective of the BCB/Zamal Hussain Trust Fund would be to assist less fortunate but promising players to fulfill their talents on the cricket field.
The BCB, over the last 6 years, has produced eleven (11) players for the West Indies at all levels, and the objective now is to produce another ten in the next five years: 2024 to 2028. Among the players who have played for the West Indies during the period 2018 to 2023 are Romario Shepherd, Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Kelvin Anderson, Shabiki Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond and Ashmini Munisar.
Foster also disclosed that the BCB would soon be hosting another edition of the Shimron/Nirvanie Hetmyer Trust Fund, which would be another boost for clubs in the county.
Region Six Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, a popular politician in the county, has said he is very impressed with the administration of the BCB under the leadership of Hilbert Foster. He said the work of the BCB President is simply outstanding, and that every single day he reads or sees of development in Berbice Cricket in the newspapers or on televised news.
Berbice Cricket, he said, is in safe hands, and he is therefore pleased to play a part in making sure that the legacies of Rohan Kanhai and Basil Butcher continue in the future.
Hussain also spoke about Government’s efforts to improve over 100 sports grounds in Region 6. He pledged to support in any way possible in the future, and urged the administration of the BCB to continue their outstanding work.