… Nagamootoo brothers Halley and Deonarine the latest.

THE outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to attract the attention of sponsors and former cricketers as the board strives to fulfil its commitment to return the game to the highest level after the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

The very vibrant board over the last three years under the presidency of Hilbert Foster has developed a reputation of attracting sponsoring from across the country, Caribbean and North America for tournaments and a wide range of developmental programmes.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the BCB’s marketing effort is its ability to have former players to come on board to sponsor events and tournaments.

Current players like Shimron Hetmeyer, Kevin Sinclair and Romario Shepherd are sponsors of tournaments while former West Indies opener Clayton Lambert recently spearheaded a $1.5M gear project, which attracted support from former national players Ray Joseph, Leslaine Lambert, Kevin Darlington and Demerara-born Nolan Mc Kenzie. Former national captain Jerry Angus also contributed to the joint BCB/RHTYSC Basil Butcher gear project.

Others like Anthony Bramble, Veersammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Esaun Crandon, Ishwar Singh, Gudakesh Motie have also assisted to support the BCB work programme.

One of the BCB new initiatives for 2021 is to host several one-day cricket tournaments at venues where clubs may be struggling to attract youths to join, and where the passion for the game has dropped off .

Another objective of the tournaments would be to give clubs who struggle to compete against the more established clubs like the RHTYSC and Albion an opportunity to win a BCB tournament.

The board hopes to organise these tournaments at venues such as Whim, Bush Lot Farm, Port Mourant, Skeldon, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Edinburgh and Bush Lot on the West Coast.

Former West Indies player Mahendra Nagamootoo and his younger brother Vishal, who also played for Guyana, have agreed to sponsor the tournament in their home village of Whim.

Port Mourant and Belvedere would clash for the Nagamootoo Brothers trophy.
The West Berbice-born Troy Halley who played for several teams in that area, contacted the board and agreed to sponsor another at the Bush Lot ground. Four teams – Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Star, Achievers and D’Edward would play in that tournament.

Guyana and West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine would be the sponsor of the Deonarine Cup to be played between Chesney, Fyrish and Courtland at the Chesney ground. Deonarine who played 18 Tests for the West Indies was born in Chesney.

He received co-sponsorship from Faheed Ahmad, Jaynath Chakravarthy, Khavita Deonarine and Dariel Inshan Ali Deonarine..

Meanwhile, former BCB executive Lloyd Simpson, at the request of BCB president would shortly be handing over an office photocopier to the board, as efforts continue to reduce overall operating costs.
Foster hailed the cooperation of the former cricketers who are now living overseas for remembering their roots and paying it forward.

He stated that the players were very impressed with the current state of Berbice cricket and most importantly they have confidence in its leadership.

The BCB boss expressed thanks to them and reassured that 2021 would see unmatched development in the county. Several other former players are in discussion with the board and more tournaments would be unveiled shortly.