BCB supports U-19 players under the Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme

Seven players from the Ancient County of Berbice who have gained selection to the National Under-19 Team on Wednesday afternoon received a combined total of $70,000 from the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) under its Dr. Puran Singh National Players Financial Scheme.

Since election of the Hilbert Foster-led Executives of the BCB, every junior and female cricketer selected for national duty has been assisted with a stipend of $10,000.
President Foster has said that, over the last two years, the BCB has pumped over $600,000 into this scheme. Last year, the members of the Under-15 Team received $20,000 each, but other players have received $10,000.
Foster, who has spearheaded accumulation of the necessary funds, has hailed the contribution of Dr. Puran Singh, a Guyanese living in Barbados. He is the brother of another major sponsor of BCB programmes — Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh.
Since Foster’s election to the presidency of the BCB, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh has contributed more than $2 million of his own funds to Berbice Cricket, while his brother, Dr Puran Singh, has contributed $300,000 for the stipend project. The BCB, Foster has said, is investing heavily in the development of its youth players, as they are the future torch bearers of the legacy of Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Alvin Kallicharran, Roy Fredericks and Joseph Solomon.
Foster is urging the players to be perfect ambassadors of Berbice and its rich cricketing legacy. He has reminded that the West Indies Under-19 Team would be selected from performances recorded in the tournament which would be played in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Foster has said the BCB is known across the cricketing world for its outstanding legendary players, its discipline and its high standards, and he has reminded the players that it is their duty to keep the flag of Berbice flying high. Clearly upset, Foster disclosed that he is a bit disappointed with the attitude of some of the players, who already believe that they are superstars.
He advised that being on time and being humble should be natural traits of the players, as the greatest achievement of a successful person is the ability to remain humble and grounded.
The seven players who received stipends from the Dr Puran Singh Financial Scheme are: Alex Algoo, Kevin Umroa, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Seon Glasgow, Garfield Benjamin and Leon Swamy. They have been selected to play for Guyana based on their outstanding performance for Berbice during the Hand-in-Hand Inter County Tournament.
Players’ Representative Garfield Benjamin expressed gratitude to the BCB and Dr. Puran Singh for the stipend. He committed the entire team, including himself, to be perfect ambassadors of the county on and off the field.
He said the players are very appreciative of the hard work of the BCB, which organizes cricket for its youth cricketers at the schools, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 levels.