Ten national youth players benefit from BCB/Dr. Puran Singh Financial Scheme
-Two more bowling machines arrive under Patron’s Fund
BCB coach Ryan Algu posing with the Under-17 players who received their stipends
Ten youth cricketers from the Ancient County who gained selection to the national teams received a total of one hundred thousand dollars from the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) under its Dr. Puran Singh National Players Stipend Scheme Programme.
The players are these from the Guyana Under-13 and Under-17 teams. The Under-13 team is currently in the Republic of Trinidad while the Under-17 team is expected to leave shortly for the Cricket West Indies Regional Tournament.
BCB President Hilbert Foster disclosed that, since 2019, the BCB, with support of Barbados-based medical doctor Puran Singh, had presented all national junior players with a stipend of $10,000 (US$50). The stipend is to assist the players to prepare for the tour, and also serves as an incentive for Berbice players. Foster acknowledged that the stipend is not much, but said the BCB, with its limited fund, is still trying to assist its players.
Foster, in a short emotional address to the players, encouraged the youths to uphold the proud tradition of Berbice cricket. He stated that the present bunch of players has a duty to carry on the legacy of John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joseph Solomon, Ivan Madray, Roy Fredricks, Leonard Baichan and Alvin Kallicharran.
Berbice cricket, Foster stated, has a proud tradition of talent, discipline and high performance. He urged the players to give one hundred per cent effort as this tournament can change the course of their cricketing careers.
Foster pledged that his administration would continue to invest heavily in the development of clubs and players.
Special thanks were expressed to Dr. Puran Singh for his sponsorship of the scheme and support of the BCB over the years. Dr. Singh and his elder brother Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh are among the largest sponsors of Berbice cricket.
The players who benefitted from the stipends were Richard Ramdehol, Raffel McKenzie, Tameshwar Deonandan, Nathaniel Ramsammy of the Under-13 Team; and the Under-17 players were vice-captain Matthew Pottaya, Sanjay Algoo, Afri Kadir, Salim Khan, Rampersaud Ramnauth and Kevin Kisten.
The players expressed thanks to the BCB and Dr. Singh for their support. Pottaya reassured the BCB President that the players would work very hard to be outstanding ambassadors of Guyana and their home county.
Meanwhile, the BCB has received another two bowling machines as it presses ahead with its massive developmental programme for youth cricketers. Foster expressed pleasure at acquiring the two additional machines with support from BCB Patron Vickram Bharrat.
The machines would be given to the Port Mourant and Cotton Tree cricket clubs, who both have active youth teams at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels.
The BCB has already donated bowling machines to the RHTY&SC, Bush Lot United CC of West Berbice, Rose Hall Canje CC of New Amsterdam/ Canje, and the NO.72 Cut and Load CC of Upper Corentyne. The proactive cricket board has also shared out five batting cages at the cost of over one million dollars to RHTY&SC, Port Mourant, Bush Lot United, Rose Hall Canje and NO.72 Cut and Load.
Foster announced that a friend of Berbice cricket based in Australia would also be donating several machines to the BCB before the end of the year.
