WITH an already packed schedule, Berbice cricket season has gotten even busier with the launching of two more cricket tournaments on Tuesday last at the Berbice Cricket Board Office in New Amsterdam.
The Berbice Cricket Board in conjunction with Singh Fam Corp of Port Washington, U.S.A launched the Elizabeth Style Under-19 and Under-21 Inter-club Tournaments.
Berbice Cricket Board public relations officer (PRO) and Chairman of the Special Events Committee, Hilbert Foster, at the launching informed the packed audience that cricket was played at all levels in Berbice and with the launching of an Under-21 tournament, the Board has completed a two-year developmental difference from the Under-13 to Under-21 levels.
This, Foster said, would assist the Berbice Cricket Board to properly manage the development of players from a young age until the age of twenty-one years.
The veteran cricket administrator stated that the Berbice Cricket Board was delighted to welcome Singh Fam Corp on board as an official sponsor and expressed gratitude to former Guyana Cricket Board vice-president, Bissoondyal Singh for his role in acquiring the sponsorship which is worth close to half a million dollars.
The Berbice Cricket Board, Foster disclosed, will launch an Under-23 tournament to complete its youth development programme. He said that the Under-19 tournament would be used to select the Berbice 2012 Inter-county Under-19 team.
Treasurer of the Berbice Cricket Board, Anil Beharry, expressed his pleasure at the current level of Berbice cricket which was unmatched in Guyana and said that the future looks even brighter and called on the young cricketers present to take proper advantage of the opportunities given to them via the numerous cricket tournaments and programmes/projects of the Berbice Cricket Board.
Beharry also gave a update of the Board’s financial status which he described as strong and solid with the balance as of November 1, 2011 being $1.4M.
President of the Board, Keith Foster, stated his confidence that with the Elizabeth Style Brand, both tournaments would be of a high standard. noting that Berbice was dominating cricket in Guyana at all levels. Foster said that it was the direct result of the hard work and forward planning of his Board.
Bissoondyal Singh, representing Singh Fam Corp and Elizabeth Style in a well received speech stated that the Company was pleased to be associated with the Berbice Cricket Board and the development of cricketing talents in the Ancient County.
He gave a comprehensive review on the Cosmetics Company which produces high-quality products at very competitive prices. He also expressed confidence in the ability of the Berbice Cricket Board to organise the tournaments, stating the track record of the Berbice Board as one of success and progress.
The East Coast Cricket Board president also advised the Under-19 and Under-21 players present at the launching to concentrate on playing cricket and developing their talents and to avoid the politics of cricket administration off the field.
The Berbice Cricket Board/Elizabeth Style Under-19 Tournament will be played on a round-robin basis among 40 clubs and players born on and after the September 1, 1993 are eligible.
Among the numerous cricketing talents to play are Shawn Pereira, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Lloydel Lewis, Surujnarine Kandasammy, Kevin Ramdeen, Quacy McPherson, Veerapen Permaul and Nial Smith.
The Under-21 tournament would be played on a Knock-out basis among the ten First Division clubs in Berbice and six other invited clubs. Players born on or after September 1, 1991, would be involved in the historic tournament and should include players like Dominic Rikhi, Clinton Pestano, Harrinarine Chattergoon, Mark Lionel, Eugene La Fleur and Keion De Jesus.
The Berbice Cricket Board would like to express gratitude to the Elizabeth Style Brand, whose distributors in Guyana are Bissan’s Trading, D. Singh & Sons and Permeshwar General Store, for its investment in Berbice Cricket
All Clubs in Berbice are being encouraged to contact the Berbice Cricket Board on Tel. 333 2375 for further information.