BCB, NBS invest heavily in 2nd division tournament
Clubs in Berbice can now look forward to a 40-Over Round Robin Second Division Tournament as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday launched another major tournament in conjunction with the mortgage giants New Building Society (NBS) Limited.
Berbice Cricket Board president, Hilbert Foster, explained that the teams would be placed into sixteen zones to ensure that the tournament is completed on time. The winner of each zone would advance to the playoff stage of the tournament. Teams have until May 25 to register, and must submit a list of at least 16 players.
Foster urges clubs to get themselves properly organised to take advantage of the hard work of the Berbice Cricket Board.
BS Manager Rana Persaud handing over sponsorship cheque to BCB president, Hilbert Foster, in the presence of other staff members
All players would be required to be attired in whites, while only Berbicians would be allowed to play. Clubs would be allowed a maximum of two First Division players, but Under-19 cricketers would not be considered First Division players.
The BCB has also debarred senior players like Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Royston Crandon, Romario Shepherd, Anthony Bramble, Assad Fudadin and Gajanand Singh. The list of debarred players consists of players who had participated in more than five matches of the Guyana Cricket Board Franchise League in 2017.
NBS Regional Manager Rana Persaud noted the financial institution is pleased to be associated with Berbice Cricket, which enjoys legendary status in the Caribbean.
The New Building Society, he said, invests heavily in sports and educational activities as part of its corporate responsibilities to Guyana.
Persaud expressed confidence that the BCB would organise a dynamic tournament and that the financial institution would receive widespread media promotion.
The tournament is expected to attract close to eight teams in the West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne, Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne areas.
Among the teams expected to participate are Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Star, Achievers, D’Edward, Cotton Tree, Blairmont, Police, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Chesney, Albion, Port Mourant, Whim, Kildonan, Mental Hospital, Mount Sinai, No. 73, Ramnarine Memorial, Skeldon and No. 68.
Foster has hailed the support of the Management and Staff of the New Building Society, which is pumping $783,000 into the tournament.
The last New Building Society Second Division Tournament was played in 2015, when Tucber Park defeated Rose Hall Town Bakewell by three runs to emerge as champion.
