THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the leadership of Hilbert Foster, has continued to fulfil its mandate in ensuring that cricket is being played at all levels across the Ancient County.
To this end, the board launched the second edition of the New York Business Group Under-19 tournament last Monday at the Albion Cricket Club ground.

The group, consisting of several New York-based businessmen teamed up with BCB and the management of the Albion Cricket Club in ensuring that cricket is played at the Under-19 level.
Foster hailed the launching as another red letter day in the history of Berbice cricket which, he said, suffered a lot due to the absence of Inter-club tournaments over the last two years.
The tournament will be played on a one-day two-innings basis at the group stages, while the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be two-day affairs.

The BCB selection committee would be looking closely at the first rounds of matches in order to select the best possible Berbice team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Under-19 tournament.
Foster expressed his gratitude to the businessmen for their massive investments of close to $700 000 and hailed them as true friends of Berbice cricket.
The BCB president also made special mention of Orvin Mangru for his hard work and dedication in securing the sponsorship.

Mangru stated that the group was delighted to once again be involved in Berbice cricket. The group first sponsored the tournament two years ago but due to the problems affecting Berbice cricket, the tournament was put on hold.
He pledged on behalf of the sponsors that the tournament would be an annual event.
The winning team would receive $100 000 and a trophy, the runner-up team $50 000 and a trophy while the man-of the-final would carry home $15 000 and a trophy.
Trophies would also be given to the best bowler in the finals, best batsman in the finals, best overall bowler, best overall batsman and best overall wicketkeeper.

The sponsors would also stand the cost of umpires from the quarterfinals stage.
The teams expected to play are Upper Corentyne, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Pepsi ‘A’, Albion ‘A’, Albion ‘B’, Rose Hall Town Pepsi ‘B’, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Police, Blairmont, West Berbice, Bush Lot United, Tamarind Root and Big Star.

Rose Hall Town Pepsi Under-19 team are the defending champions.
The New York Business Group consists of Seepersaud Charran of Ryan Trucking Service, Richard Mahase of Little Guyana Bake Shop, Jamel Mohammed of City Buyers Garment Factory, Sheik Hassan of Westchester Stairlift, Permaul Trading and Distribution and Ajit Mootoo.