IVAN MADRAY FIRST DIVISION TOURNAMENT!
The BCB recently launched the fourth edition of the Ivan Madray first
division tournament at a simple presentation ceremony on the office of
sponsor Chandradat Chinatami.The knockout tournament would start as
soon as the weather improves. Mr. Chinatami told BCB President Hilbert
Foster that he was pleased to be associated with Berbice cricket and the
high standards in the county. Another day -another sponsorship secured
for BCB’s players!
PRESIDENTIAL OUTREACH!
BCB President Hilbert Foster dropped in at the Port Mourant Ground to
say a few words to members of the Berbice Cricket Board under 17 inter
county team. The team was training under the watchful eyes of Coach
Winston Smith ,Manager Floyd Benjamin and other coaches. Mr. Foster
urged the team to play as a United bunch and to focus on the game at all
times .He warned that no indiscipline would be tolerated and he expects
that all instructions from the captain and management would be followed
at all times. He also announced that all five wickets haul and centuries
would be rewarded.
CLUB ASSISTANCE!
On June 25 BCB President Hilbert Foster assisted several member clubs
of the board with several much needed equipment .The clubs were
Police ,Young Warriors,Blairmont,Kildonan and Mt Sinai.
The provided equipment was as follows:
Police-One practice net
Blairmont-Catching crib and wicket keeping gears.
Mt Sinai-One box of balls
Young Warriors-Catching crib
Upper Corentyne-Two pairs of wicket keeping gears.
Kildonan-Practice net, box of balls,catching crib,wicket keeping gears .
The donations, worth over three hundred thousand dollars, are part of
the President effort to assist clubs to fulfill their mandate to develop new
talent in the County. Berbice Cricket Board on the move!
NEW CLUB INDUCTED!
The Tucber Park Cricket Club of New Amsterdam was officially inducted
as the seventeen member of the progressive Berbice Cricket Board.
The club had officially written to the BCB and a committee headed
by Treasurer Rovin Bahadur had recommended it for consideration.
Delegates at the OGM subsequently voted with no objections to the
recommendation. President Hilbert Foster congratulated Tucber Park on
their entry into the board as an official member and we look forward to
working with them to lift Berbice cricket even higher.
NEW FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE!
Delegates at the BCB June 25 OGM accepted an offer from international
cricket journalist Tony McWatt for the setting up of a monthly online full
colored magazine for Berbice. Delegates were informed that the board
would benefit from funds raised from persons subscriptions to the magazine.
A three man committee headed by Sudesh Suresh Dhanai would supervise
the implementation of the project which would benefit us greatly. Other
members of the committee are Ryan Algu and Davindra Ramdihal. The
magazine would keep the cricketing world informed about Berbice Cricket.
There can be no doubt that Berbice cricket is on move.
OGM HELD!
The BCB hosted a successful June 25. 2023 OGM
at the Port Mourant ground with sixteen of the
seventeen members present. The only club which
was not present was the Mental Hospital. President
Hilbert Foster chaired the meeting and called on
members to work together for the development of
the game.
1 The President provided a full three-page report on
the outstanding work done by the board in 2023.
2 Delegates approved minutes of the last meeting.
3 The meeting passed the report of the Competition
Committee for the year.
4 Members received the financial report of the Board.
5 Approval was given for the Tucber Park CC to
become the 17th member of the BCB
6 Arrangements were put into place for the hosting
of three cricket academies -West Berbice, Upper
Corentyne and one for the entire county
7 Donations of cricket related items were made to
several clubs including Police, Kildonan, Blairmont,
Upper Corentyne, Young Warriors
8 Approval was given to the BCB to enter an agreement
with journalist Tony McWatt for the setting up of an
online magazine . The board would benefit from the
deal for its youth developmental programmes. Ryan
Algu and Davindra Ramdihal would assist Sudesh
Dhanai to make the project successful.
9 A three-man committee was set up to look into two
days cricket later in the year. The committee would
be headed by Balram Samaroo and include Vemen
Walters and Ryan Algu
10 The BCB later in the year is expected to benefit
from a donation of cricket items from a friend in
Australia.
11 The BCB has set up a working committee headed
by Balram Samaroo to look into rules for its historic
under 11 tournament.
12 The three sub associations for the Berbice Rivers,
Upper Corentyne and West Berbice areas have to
hold elections shortly.
13 It was decided that Tucker Park, Port Mourant and
Albion would finish off the much-delayed Minister
Mustapha under 15 tournament.
15 The BCB Tenelec 2022 First Division tournament
would be completed shortly
16 Delegates expressed their frustration at the GCB
attitude to the BCB Speaker 20/20 cup. They widely
condemned the threat to ban players and official for
the tournament.
17 A motion moved by Mr Vemen Walters of Albion
was approved with no objections for the GCB
subvention to be paid over to the most active cricket
board . Subventions are due for 2021 (1m), 2022 and
2023.
18 The BCB has shared out four bowling machines to
RHTYSC, Bush Lot, RH Canje and Upper Corentyne
while Port Mourant and Cotton Tree would receive
shortly
19 Five batting cages at the cost of one million dollars
were constructed by the board . Sponsorship is being
sought for more.
20 Delegates were brought up to date on the successful
talks between the board and the University of Guyana.
21 Several cricket sponsorship were unveiled to
delegates.
22 Second Division teams across the county would
shortly receive red balls at the cost of one million
dollars.
23 Coaching programmes would be arranged shortly
for spinners, batsmen and fast bowlers.
24 The BCB has mandated Albert Smith and Winston
Smith to work on a programme for the cricket
academies.
25 The BCB would seek a meeting with President
Irfaan Ali to discuss some areas of cooperation.
26 Delegates approved a donation of fifty thousands
dollars towards Adrian Amsterdam medical fees.
President Foster also updated members of the board
effort to raise funds for the ailing cricket coach.
GEAR UPLIFT!
BCB President Hilbert Foster on June 24 handed over
wicket keeping gears to Young Warriors Cricket Club
to aid the once powerful club to regroup. Further
assistance will soon be provided.
HEARTIEST CONGRATS LADIES!
The President and Executives of the Berbice Cricket
Board have conveyed their profound congrats to
Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar and Shakabi
Gajnabi on their selection in the West Indies female
senior team for the home series versus Ireland. There
can be no doubt that Berbice cricket is at a sound level
as the County is been represented at all levels in the
Caribbean.Congrats were also extended to Shemaine
Capmbelle for her promotion as vice
captain and to Ashmini on her first ever
senior call up.
Congrats were conveyed to the Rose Hall
Canje on the achievement of producing its
first ever female player at the senior level.
SPEAKER’S TOURNAMENT SILENCED!
With a sad and heavy heart , that the BCB
has been forced to put on hold the Speaker
Cup that was scheduled to begin over the
June 24 weekend. The Guyana Cricket
Board in its wisdom had ruled that the
tournament is unsanctioned and players
and officials can be sanctioned. This was
simply unbelievable as BCB players are being
denied the opportunity to showcase their
talents on the field. In a time of a suffering
West Indies team, actions like these will
only hurt Caribbean cricket further. Berbice
cricket continues to suffer but will grow stronger and
continue to excel. The BCB would continue to work harder
and to shine brighter than the rest. BCB will keep its member
clubs up to date on new developments. The board has put
the tournament on hold because it does not want its players
to suffer for no reason at all. Actions like these would only
drive sponsors away from the game when so few are willing
to come forward. The Georgetown Cricket Association is
in a similar situation as the BCB with their tournament not
having received the required GCB sanctioning approval as
well. SAD, SAD , SAD.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS TAPEBALL CRICKET!
On June 20 The BCB started distribution of
tapeball equipment to primary schools in the New
Amsterdam-Canje area. Asst Secretary Ameer
Rahaman and executive Gregory Crandon visited
schools in New Amsterdam to hand over bats and
balls.
The distribution continued the following day in
Canje and the East Bank areas. Next school term,
the BCB will be hosting an inter primary school
tournament for the area. All primary schools will
now have equipment for the game from the BCB
under its aggressive outreach project to develop
new talent at the Primary School level!
SINCLAIR’S GENEROSITY!
Kevin Sinclair paid a June 21 visit to the office of
RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster to bear some
remarkable news for the membership of the club.
The West Indies white ball all rounder informed
the Secretary that he would be undertaking some
major repairs to the main pavilion at the Area H
Ground at his own expense .
The Secretary expressed gratitude to Sinclair for his support and assistance .It was
agreed that a contractor selected by Sinclair would soon visit to take an estimate. The
Club would like to thank Kevin for remembering its massive input into his career and
for carrying it forward with his kindness. He has also pledged his support for RHTYSC’s
cricket academy this coming July. Charity surely begins at home .Well done Kevin Sinclair!
PROMISE FULFILLED!
Yet another BCB promise was fulfilled on June
19 as President Hilbert Foster today handed
over a practice net along with a box of balls
and wicket keeping gears to the Dedwards
CC. Coach Ryan Kissoonlall handed over the
donation to Vivek Lalsa of the club.
President Foster had promised Mr Anil Lalsato
donate a net to improve practice sessions at
the club. The club is the top performing club
in West Berbice and the BCB President urged
them to uphold their high standards. Berbice
Cricket on the move and another promise
fulfilled.
UNIFORMS DISTRIBUTED!
The BCB on June 15 distributed close to three
hundred thousand dollars worth of colored
uniforms to coaches attached to its coaching
programme. The uniforms were donated by
Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports .
BCB President Hilbert Foster called on the
coaches to redouble their commitment to
developing the County’s youth players and
to make sure that they are serious about
improving Berbice cricket. President Foster
also announced the appointment of Nicky
Nickey Lathman,Winston Smith,Leslie
Soloman and Travis Harcourt as Head
Coaches for the different sub areas. Each coach is now required to report regularly on their programme. President Foster warned the coaches that he was
in no mood to tolerate laziness and lack of commitment.
SHEPHERD’S SPONSORSHIP!
President Hilbert Foster is pleased to inform the general public that West Indies white ball all rounder Romario Shepherd has renewed his sponsorship of
the BCB Under 13 tournament for 2023. Romario informed the President via his wife of his continued support. The BCB boss expressed his gratitude to the
player for his sponsorship. The tournament is for players born on or after the first of September,2010.
COACHING CAMP!
In its ongoing effort to develop cricketing talent around the county of Berbice, the BCB with the assistance of Coach Junior Blair conducted a coaching camp
for youths in the village of Orealla. The sessions were attended by twenty excited and eager youths.
Special emphasis was placed on improving batting and bowling skills in the area as steps are considered to get them involved in tournaments organised by
the Berbice Cricket Board. The BCB would like to express thanks to Mr Blair for his assistance in organising the camp which was held on Saturday June 3
and Sunday 4.
BCB President Hilbert Foster has committed to obtaining some cricket gears for the area very shortly and Mr Blair would return to host another session.
Progress continues in Berbice Cricket.The programme was organized by the Orealla Village Council,the management of the Orealla Secondary School and
Sir Ikie Henry. Well done!