THIS year’s Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-organised Republic Bank Under-17 Inter-zone tournament, the fifth of its kind, is expected to bowl off on Friday with two matches, featuring teams from West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.

Players born on or after January 1, 1996 would take part in the tournament, which, according to BCB Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster, will identify players for the Berbice Under-17 and Under-19 teams for 2013.
West Berbice would clash with New Amsterdam/Canje at the Blairmont Community Centre while Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would play at the Area ‘H’ ground in Rose Hall Town, with the two winners clashing the final at the Port Mourant ground. The third place playoff would be played at the Area ‘H’ ground.
Promising players of the calibre of Grisean Grant, Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Andrews, Daniel Lewis, Balchan Baldeo, Brandon Prashad, Deon Esau, Jamiel Jackman, Viendra Gooniah and Tyrone Pooranauth are expected to be a part of the tournament.
Officials of the Republic Bank would meet with the teams before the games and the BCB wishes to advice all Under-19 players that the 2012 Diamond Fire and General Insurance Under-19 Inter-zone tournament would bowl off next weekend.

Teams: 
Upper Corentyne:  –  Deon Esau (captain), Rajesh Mohabir (v-c), Aslam Baksh, Jameel Jackman, Chavin Arnachalam, Chavah Arnachalam, Totoram Rajaram, Naresh Deo, Nicholas Seenarine, Kushal Sawh, Rabindranauth Roopchand, Whitney Lampey, Tameshwar Kumar, Mohamed Deochan and Vidianand Sugrim.

Lower Corentyne:  –  Balchand Baldeo (v-c), Askay Homraj, Brandon Persaud, Daniel Lewis (captain), Joshua Holder, Calvin Jeffrey, Viendra Gooniah, Tyrone Pooranuath, Joshua Harrichand, Veeren Ramoo, Latchman Biram, Navindra Permaul, Shivnarine Shirkissoon (wkp.), Azam Khan and Matthew Hardyal.

New Amsterdam/Canje:  –  Shimron Hetmyer (captain), Leon Andrews (v-c), Kwesi Mickle, Clifton Lindie (wkp.), Joseph Giddings, Marvin Braithwaithe, Didal La Fleur, Gavin Moriah, Kassim Khan, Videshwar Mangra, Marlon Shepherd, Jamal Henry Jr and Omar Weatherspoon.

West Berbice:  –  Adrian Singh, Navendra Mahadeo, Grisean Grant, Randy Wade, Jason Joashen, Kendy Dhanraj, Parmanand Ramdhan (captain), Akeem Miller, Joesph Nicholson, Derick Narine, Gopaul Brijlall, Mohan Deodat, Avikar Rabindranauth, Kareem Mentore and Renison Mitchell.