THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday launched its Hand-in-Hand-sponsored Golden Jubilee Celebration 40-over 2nd Division Cricket Tournament in the Boardroom of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company.
In delivering remarks, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club’s Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Hilbert Foster said the second division tournament which will bowl off shortly will be one that will be remembered, since the rest of the country is reeling from the negative effects of the ongoing local cricket crisis.“It would be cricket, lovely cricket and more cricket in the Ancient County,” Foster declared.
This will be the third successive year that Hand-in-Hand has chosen to renew their sponsorship of a 40-over second division tournament for teams in the West Berbice area.
According to Foster, the tournament will be contested on a knockout basis between 16 teams in the Region 5 District and the winning team would receive $60 000 and a trophy, while the runner-up team would receive $40 000.
The man-of-the-match in the final will earn $10 000 and a trophy.
Foster said the main aim of the tournament is to develop the game of cricket in the West Berbice area, to identify new talent and more especially, to celebrate the BCB’s 75th anniversary.
Among the teams expected to be a part of the tournament are; Blairmont, Bush Lot, Bath Settlement, Rainbow Generation, D’Edward, Rosignol and Hopetown.
Foster expressed his gratitude to the Board of Directors and management of Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies for their confidence in the BCB and for investing in the development of West Berbice cricket.
Foster issued a call for cricketers from all across West Berbice to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to them by the hard-working BCB which he said is fully committed to cricket in Region 5 and would continue to spearhead the development of the game at every level in the Region.
In response, Hand-in-Hand’s Human Resources/Admin Manager Zaida Joaquin said her company is pleased to be associated with not only the tournament but with the BCB, and Hand-in-Hand is very happy that steps are being taken to develop the sport of cricket in Berbice.
She said it is her desire that the tournament will be a good and competitive one and added that Hand-in-Hand is committed to the development of not only cricket in Berbice but also the development of the youths of Guyana in general.