CRICKET on the West Coast of Berbice will receive a massive boost this year, after a delegation from the Berbice Cricket Board, led by treasurer Anil Beharry and Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster, met with nine clubs last Sunday. The meeting came about following matters raised by some of the clubs, including the state of the game in the area and the almost non-functioning of the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA).
Foster, who is also the Chairman of the BCB’s Special Events Committee, chaired the meeting and said the BCB would be placing special emphasis in the West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje and Upper Corentyne areas this year.
Foster said the BCB would be hosting at least 20 cricket tournaments including t20 and 40-overs tournaments for teams in the West Berbice area, while they will also be hosting a couple of two-day matches between zones in the area, in an effort to develop new talents.
After listening to representatives of the clubs, it was agreed that two one-day Cricket Academies would be held at the Bush Lot and D’Edward Cricket grounds for West Berbice youths.
The BCB would also provide assistance to eight clubs in the area with some items while the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club would provide five gifts to the Rosignol Cricket Club for the holding of a fundraising raffle, while the BCB’s grass cutter would be used to assist clubs to get their grounds in order.
A five-man committee was set up by the clubs to administer the cricket tournaments which would be launched soon and clubs, who are interested in playing in the t20 and 40 overs tournaments, can contact the BCB office on 333-2375 or Shabeer Baksh on 628-6767.
Representatives of the clubs which included Blairmont, D’Edward, Rosignol, Cotton Tree and Bush Lot thanked the BCB for the visit and pledged to work along with the Board to develop the game in West Berbice.
The BCB would shortly be meeting with clubs in the New Amsterdam/Canje and Upper Corentyne areas to disclose tournaments and programmes designed for their clubs, while Beharry explained that in addition to tournaments for the entire county, the Board would be organising several programmess within the different zones.
Meanwhile, the BCB would like to advise all cricket clubs in Berbice to use the rainy season to prepare their teams for upcoming Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 cricket tournaments, which are expected to commence as soon as the weather improves.