Secondary school cricket returns to West Berbice with historic primary school tourney

– 14 schools to play as BCB invests heavily into youth development

“You have the opportunity to assist us to unearth new cricketing talents to continue the legacy of (Rohan) Kanhai, (Basil) Butcher, (Joe) Solomon, (Roy) Fredericks and (Alvin) Kallicharran. Berbice is known across the world for producing outstanding cricketers and we owe it to the next generation to continue the tradition. The Berbice Cricket Board under my leadership is fully committed to lifting our cricket to its highest-ever level and it would be our privilege to work with you in this noble quest.”

These were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster when he and a delegation from the Board met with sport teachers of primary and secondary schools in the West Berbice area.
Foster was accompanied by Secretary Angela Haniff, Selection Committee Chairman Balram Samaroo, Competition Committee Chairman Leslie Solomon, West Berbice President David Black, and Coach Shamal Angel. The teachers were informed that the proactive cricket board would be reintroducing cricket into secondary schools with at least two tournaments in 2023, while for the first time in its 84-year history, the BCB would be hosting an under-11 inter-primary school tournament.
Six secondary schools in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) will participate in the 30-over-per-side tournament while 14 primary schools would be involved in a 10-over tape-ball tournament from early next month.
Foster, who was on his 79th visit to the sub-association since his election in early 2018, disclosed that the secondary schools tournament would be for Under-19 players born on or after the first of September 2004 while the cut-off date for players in the primary school Under-11 tournament would be the first of September 2012. Students must have an attendance rate of 75 per cent to play .
The BCB late last year had provided the six secondary schools with cricket uniforms, gear, and cricket balls to prepare for the expected tournament while the 14 primary schools would shortly receive two bats and a set of tape flannel balls to assist them to play.
Each primary school would be required to select four females in their 14-member squad while two shall have to be selected in the final XI. One of the 10 overs shall also be bowled by a female.
Competition Chairman Solomon explained that the winner of both the primary and secondary levels would go on to play the champions from Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and Upper Corentyne to determine the overall Berbice champion.
The different winners would each receive vouchers to purchase stationery and other needed items for the schools. Foster also informed the teachers that the BCB would also be providing copies of its historic coaching manual and youth information booklet to the schools to assist them to properly prepare their students for the tournaments.
The Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Samaroo, a former national junior cricketer, along with the BCB Coaches working in Region Five will select a special 24-member squad for both levels. A panel of coaches would work with the selected team for two days to assist in their development.
The secondary school tournament would be sponsored by Latchman Construction and Landscaping Inc while the primary school tourney would be sponsored by Caribbean Motors and Dhanpaul Sukhra.