Brian Ramphal recommits to Berbice Cricket for sixth successive year

When the Hilbert Foster-led executives took control of the Berbice Cricket Board in early 2018, Berbice Cricket was in total decline, due to local cricket politics. Very few, if any, cricket tournaments were been played, clubs were closing down at a very fast rate, while youths were looking at other sports as alternatives. No developmental programme was in place to assist youths to fulfill their potential on or off the cricket field.
On the first day of his presidency, Foster contacted former Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board, Oscar Ramjeet, for assistance in getting some business persons on board as sponsors. The USA-based Attorney-at-Law readily agreed to assist, and introduced the new president to several persons. Among them was strong cricket fan Brian Ramphal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RBS Tech Center Inc, located in Georgetown.

After a brief discussion with the new executives, Ramphal agreed to come on board as a major sponsor of Berbice Cricket. He donated a million dollars, and has continued his assistance every year since with an annual contribution of five hundred thousand dollars.
His support over the last five years has been one of the main reasons why Berbice Cricket is now widely considered the most active and progressive in Guyana and the Caribbean.
Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, West Indies player Shimron Hetmyer, and Businessman Brian Ramphal are the top three individual sponsors of Berbice Cricket.
Over the last five years, Berbice has dominated cricket at the inter-county level, produced most cricketers for the national teams at all levels, organised dozens of developmental programmes, while the numbers of active cricket clubs and players have returned to the 2015 all-time high after a three-year decline.
Foster noted that, with Ramphal’s sponsorship, the BCB was able to host several cricket tournaments, including a double wicket first division tourney for the county’s eleven teams, and an under-19 tournament in West Berbice.
The popular businessman’s support was also integral in publication of the historic BCB coaching manual, and was integral in organising numerous coaching sessions, funding the hosting of trial matches to select inter-county teams at the junior levels, and publishing informational posters and the BCB Youth Information Booklet.
Businessman Brian Ramphal is also the major sponsor of the BCB’s Annual Awards Ceremony, and the Mother of the Year and Father of the Year Awards. With funding from Ramphal, the BCB has also been able to assist several youth cricketers with needed gear. West Indies players Shimron Hetmyer, Veersammy Permaul, Romario Shepherd and Shemaine Campbelle were honoured for making Berbice proud, while young talents like Jonathan Rampersaud, Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth, Ashmini Munisar and Ashley Ramnauth have all emerged from the coaching sessions.
BCB President Hilbert Foster is hailing Businessman Brian Ramphal as a hero of Berbice Cricket, and as one of the main reasons why Berbice Cricket has been able to rise to the top. This businessman has employed several young Guyanese in his business, and has committed to renewing his sponsorship in 2023 at the cost of five hundred thousand dollars. This sponsorship would cover the hosting of a historic two-day tournament at the under-21 level, the 2023 Awards Ceremony, and the annual Mother and Father of the Year Awards.
Foster is flaunting his confidence that with the  support of Ramphal, Berbice Cricket would continue to move forward at a very rapid rate. He disclosed that the two-day under-17 tournament is part of the BCB’s effort to get youth players involved in playing the longer version of the game in a comprehensive developmental plan. An elite squad of 24 players would be selected for a special coaching programme and possible selection to the Berbice under-17 team.
RBS TechCenter Inc is a Technology Call Centre and BPO Services company with employees in Georgetown, and can be contacted via [email protected]