When BCB President Hilbert Foster met with former West Indies ODI legend Ramnaresh Sarwan — to launch the third edition of the Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Berbice Cricket Tournament — at the fitness 53 Gym recently, Foster reminisced on the relationship between the BCB and Sarwan as follows:
Ramnaresh Sarwan, handing over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster
“You were the first person to call me after my election as President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in February 2018, and you were the first sponsor to come on board, just two hours after election. My presidency has been very successful because of persons like you, who have invested heavily into our cricket. Berbice Cricket would forever be grateful to Ramnaresh Sarwan.”
In under one month, the vibrant BCB raised $8M in cash and kind for Berbice Cricket in 2020.
The first edition of the Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Tournament was won by Rose Hall Town Bakewell, while the defending champions and arch rivals Albion Community Centre have clashed in the 2019 finals, which were recently played.
Foster has said that with the Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter- County Under-17 Tournament coming up in the near future, the BCB, being pro-active, would like to start early preparation. The under-17 tournaments normally attract about 20 teams, and involve players born on or after September 1st, 2003.
Among the teams expected to participate in this tournament are: Achievers, East Bank Blazers, Paradise, Bush Lot United, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Mt. Sinai, Edinburgh, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Port Mourant and No73.
Players like Leon Cecil, Isai Thorne, Rampertab, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandia, Tameshwar Mohabir, Zeynul Ramsammy, Rashaad Gafoor and Salim Khan are expected to play in the 50-over format event.
The teams would be divided into four zones, with the top two zones advancing to the quarterfinals. Foster has said that the Lewison General Store Under-15 Tournament has already commenced, and another under-15 tournament would start after the national elections in March.
As part of a comprehensive developmental programme, the BCB would also be hosting Under-13, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 tournaments in 2020.
Foster reminded clubs that only Berbicians would be allowed to play, while a walkover would be granted half an hour after the scheduled start of play. Clubs who lose by walkover would be banned from playing at the junior level for the rest of the year. Captains who are not present at the venue fifteen minutes before the start of play would lose their rights to the toss. The BCB would select a 30-man squad, based on performance in the tournament, to participate in several trial matches.
Sarwan has donated a coaching kit worth $100,000 to the BCB as the board strives to develop its coaching department. The donation, Foster stated, would be used by the coaching staff headed by Level Three Coach Winston Smith in the upcoming inter-county tournaments and in the BCB coaching programmes during the year.
One of the BCB’s main objectives is to make sure that every promising talent in Berbice is unearthed and allowed to be fulfilled. Later in the year, the BCB is also expected to receive another coaching set from another former Guyana senior player.
The BCB President has expressed gratitude to Sarwan, and has called on other former cricketers to give back to the game which made them household names.
Sarwan, in brief remarks, said he was very impressed with the BCB under the leadership of Foster. He urged the board to always strive for excellence, and noted that he was satisfied with the hosting of the first two tournaments.
