THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to benefit from the assistance of former national players who are based overseas, along with several passionate supporters of Berbice cricket. The BCB, in the first two weeks of 2021, has attracted close to seven million dollars’ worth of support in the form of financial sponsorship and necessary items.

The main feature of the successful marketing drive has been the massive support the BCB has obtained from former and current players, including Clayton Lambert, Ray Joseph, Leslaine Lambert, Kevin Darlington, Kevin Sinclair, Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Vishal Nagamootoo, Narsingh Deonarine, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Jeremy Gordon, and Troy Halley.

The latest former players to come on board are former national captain, Damodar Dasrat; former West Indies Under-19 all- rounder, Arjune Nandu; former RHTYSC player, Mankarran Singh, and businessman Ray Ali of Ashiek and Son Motor Spares.

Nandu, a former member of the historic Port Mourant Cricket Club, donated eighty thousand dollars towards the hosting of a one day, four teams tournament at the Port Mourant Ground. Nandu, who played for Guyana at the junior and senior level, also represented the West Indies at the Under-19 level.

The four teams would be Ramnarine Memorial, Kildonan, No 43 and Kennard Memorial. Both Nandu and Singh stated that they were delighted to support Berbice cricket as it was on the move. Former senior national captain, Damodar Dasrat, positively responded to a request from BCB president, Hilbert Foster, for a donation of a laptop.

The laptop would be used by Public Relations Officer, Simon Naidu, to issue press releases and assist in the publications of magazines, educational materials etc. Dasrat, a former Berbice captain, who had the distinction of dismissing the Indian batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, during his career, was a useful medium pacer and solid middle order batsman.

Businessman Ray Ali, owner of Ashiek Motor Spares of Number 2 Village, Canje, donated $50,000.00 towards obtaining  inter-county caps for the Berbice Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and female cricket teams. The Berbice Cap System, he noted, was a good way of making sure that players have memories of being a Berbice player.