ANSA McAl yesterday launched its second Annual Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Carib Beer Premier League at a simple ceremony at the National Communications Network office, Homestretch Avenue.

In brief remarks, BCB’s Public Relations Officer, Hubert Foster, noted that 20/20 cricket is the most popular form of the game and the successes of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League have only served to build the passion even more in the Region and the Ancient County.
According to Foster, the BCB would be staging two T20 tournaments this year, one through sponsorship from Universal DVD and the other from sponsorship from Ansa McAl through its Carib Beer brand.
Foster said last year, when Ansa McAl sponsored the tournament, Albion Sports Club won the highly successful tournament and the BCB is proud and grateful that Ansa McAl has renewed the sponsorship.
The teams that will contest the 2014 tournament are: Bush Lot, West Berbice, Blairmont, D’Edward, Edinburgh, Bermine, Berbice Police, Young Warriors, Albion, Rose Hall Town Council, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Upper Corentyne.
Foster stared that the tournament would be played with the teams divided into zones and playing each other on a round-robin basis before the knock-out stage begins.
He said both semi-finals would be played on the same day at one venue while the final would also involve the third place play-off match.
The winning team would receive $80 000 and the Carib Beer trophy, while the second place team would carry home $40 000.
The Man-of-the-Match in the final would draw down $10 000.
Foster noted that Berbice has several outstanding 20/20 players who always perform well in tournaments such as the Carib Beer 20/20 tournament and crowd attendance is always very good.
He said while Albion and Rose Hall Town would start as favourites, they would be challenged by others who would be determined to be crowned as the 20/20 champions.
Foster, assured the management of Ansa McAl that like last year the Carib Beer 20/20 Cup would fulfil all of its objectives and would play a great part in the revival of cricket as a national game.
He expressed his heartfelt thanks to Ansa McAl’s officials, Beverly Harper, Troy Cadogan, Nigel Worrell and Darshanie Yussuf for their cooperation.
Foster informed that Ansa McAl, apart from sponsoring the 20/20 tournament this year, would also be supporting the BCB’s Golden Jubilee Tribute to Heroes programme which is billed for September this year.
Ms Yussuf, in very brief remarks, said her company is pleased to be associated with the tournament and the BCB.
She said it’s an opportunity for the company to renew its involvement in cricket and in sports in general.
Ms Yussuf said Ansa McAl has noticed that cricket in Berbice is very special and dear to Berbicians and in this the second year of sponsorship of the tournament, she hopes that the game would continue to grow.
According to Foster, the BCB would be staging between 18-20 tournaments in 2014 and it is very likely that the Carib Beer 20/20 final and third-place playoff would be played under lights at the Albion Community Centre ground.