Former cricketers, executives on board in support of Berbice Cricket development

– Nagamootoo brothers, Troy Halley, Narsingh Deonarine are the latest

The outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to attract the attention of sponsors and former cricketers as the board strives to fulfill its commitment to return the game to the highest level of attraction after the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

Over the last three years under the Presidency of Hilbert Foster, the very vibrant board has developed a reputation of attracting sponsorships from across the country, the Caribbean and North America for tournaments and a wide range of developmental programmes. One of the most pleasing aspects of the BCB marketing effort is its ability to have former players come on board to sponsor events and tournaments.
Current players like Shimron Hetmyer, Kevin Sinclair and Romario Shepherd are sponsors of tournaments, while former West Indies opener Clayton Lambert recently spearheaded a $1.5M gears’ project which attracted support from former national players Ray Joseph, Leslaine Lambert, Kevin Darlington and Demerara-born Nolan McKenzie.
Former national captain Jerry Angus also contributed to the joint BCB/RHTY&SC Basil Butcher gears’ project. Others, like Anthony Bramble, Veersammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Esaun Crandon, Ishwar Singh and Gudakesh Motie, have also assisted in support of the BCB’s work programme.

One of the new BCB initiatives for 2021 is to host several one-day cricket tournaments at venues where clubs may be struggling to attract youths to join, and where the passion for the game has been subsiding.
Another objective of the tournaments would be to give clubs which are struggling opportunity to compete against more established clubs, like the RHTY&SC and the Albion Cricket Club, so they might get opportunity to win a BCB tournament. The BCB hopes to organise these tournaments at venues such as Whim, Bush Lot Farm, Port Mourant, Skeldon, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Edinburgh and Bush Lot on the Berbice West Coast.
Former West Indies player Mahendra Nagamootoo and his younger brother Vishal, who have both played for Guyana, have agreed to sponsor the tournament in their home village of Whim. Whim, Port Mourant and Belvedere would clash for the Nagamootoo Brothers Trophy.
The West Berbice-born Troy Halley, who played for several teams in that area, contacted the BCB and offered to sponsor another tournament at the Bush Lot Ground. Four teams: Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Stars, Achievers, and D’Edward, would play in that tournament.

Former Guyana captain and West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine would be the sponsor of the Deonarine Cup, to be played between Chesney, Fyrish and Courtland at the Chesney Ground. Deonarine, who played in 18 Tests for the West Indies, was born in Chesney.

Meanwhile, former BCB Executive Lloyd Simpson, at the request of the BCB President, would shortly be handing over an office photo copier to the board, as efforts continues to reduce the BCB’s overall operating costs.
Foster has hailed the cooperation of the former cricketers who are now living overseas for remembering their roots and paying it forward. He said the players were very impressed with the current state of Berbice Cricket and, most importantly, have confidence in its leadership.
He expressed gratitude to them, and reassured that 2021 would see unmatched development in the county.
Several other former players are in discussion with the BCB, and more tournaments would shortly be unveiled.