AFTER the successful staging of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-sponsored Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 cricket tournament, the board was able to convince the former West Indies captain for another year of sponsorship.

President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, met with Sarwan yesterday at his Fitness 53 Gym, and the alliance between the two was further enhanced.

As part of the board’s early preparation for the 2019 inter-county Under-17 tournament, the BCB is expected to stage the tournament in early November.

The cut-off date of birth for players participating is September 1, 2002. The president and members of the BCB will like to express gratitude to Ramnaresh Sarwan, a veteran of 87 Test matches for the West Indies.

Meanwhile, the BCB has joined hands with beverage giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to launch the Pepsi 50-overs cricket tournament for first division teams in the Ancient County. The launching took place at the company’s office in Georgetown yesterday.

Foster hailed the tournament as another remarkable achievement of the BCB.

Marketing Manager of DDL, Larry Wills, stated that the company along with Pepsi was pleased to be associated with the BCB and by extension Berbice Cricket. He stated that Pepsi is known around the world for its support of sports, and expressed confidence that the tournament will be a great success.

DDL, Wills stated, invests heavily in sports as it views support as an investment into the development of youths. Both finalists will receive attractive financial prizes and trophies.

Teams are reminded that only one non-Berbician will be permitted to play for the entire tournament for a club and teams are expected to be properly attired.

The tournament will be contested by eleven clubs including the recently reformed Young Warriors Cricket Club.

The clubs will be divided into two Zones. West Berbice, Blairmont Community Centre, Police Sports Club. Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje and Tucber Park will complete in Zone A while Zone B will consist of Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Skeldon Cricket Club and Upper Corentyne. Two teams from each Zone will advance to the semifinals.

The tournament bowls off tomorrow with matches across Berbice with Police playing Young Warriors Cricket Club at Cumberland; Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club hosting Tucber Park Cricket Club; Albion Cricket Club opposing Upper Corentyne Cricket Association at No. 69 Ground and Skeldon facing Port Mourant Cricket Club.

The Blairmont and West Berbice match will be played at another date due to Blairmont’s involvement in today’s Under-21 final.

Captions:

Former West Indies captain hands over the sponsorship cheque to BCB president Hilbert Foster.

BCB president Hilbert Foster receives sponsorship cheque from DDL Marketing Executive Larry Wills.

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