THE executives of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Thursday met under the chairmanship of president Hilbert Foster to discuss their progress going forward.

In attendance were Angela Haniff, Ameer Rahaman, Rovin Bahadur, Neil Rudder, Narine Deonarine, E. Edwards, Gregory Crandon, Leslie Solomon, Balram Samaroo and Omeshwar Sirikishun. The BCB, as it has done over the last four years, would like to inform the cricketing public of decisions taken and updates.

1. Executives were updated on the successful visit by Sir Curtly Ambrose for the bowling clinic.

2. Twelve first division clubs would benefit from $1M worth of balls under the Patron Fund.

The gear donated by the Cricket Kindness Project and for the Ray Hazel Trust Fund arrived in the country.

The final of the Jafferally 20/20 was played on Sunday at the Cotton Tree ground. D’Edward emerged as winners.

The BCB Youth Information Booklet – another 500 copies would be published shortly. President Irfaan Ali has promised to donate a modern grass cutter to BCB.

Also, the BCB annual awards ceremony will be held on April 20 at St Francis. CWI president Ricky Skerritt will be the guest speaker. A special committee, headed by Balram Samaroo, will look into the naming of the awardees – the other members shall be Ameer Rahaman, Leslie Solomon and Gregory Crandon.

The recently completed Sir Curtly Ambrose clinic was a success and as a result, Sir Ambrose has indicated that he would be available to return to Berbice in the future as he was very impressed with development and the amount of talent here.

Next Sunday, the board is set to host an off-spinners’ clinic, along with another one for wicketkeepers at the Albion ground. West Indies players, Clyde Butts and Sheik Mohamed, will conduct the clinics for youths in the county.

The board, along with the NGO, will be hosting a one-day seminar on mental health, domestic violence, suicide at the Albion Ground for 50 youth cricketers. Mr Omeshwar Sirikishun shall be in charge.

Members agreed that the signatures for the BCB Account shall be Angela Haniff, Dr Cecil Beharry, Rovin Beharry and Neil Rudder.

A Special committee, headed by Rovin Bahadur, was established by BCB to look into an application by Tucber Park Cricket Club for full membership. The committee would meet with executives of the club next Tuesday at the office to start the process.

Members appointed Jonathan Rampersaud to act as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for a period of three months.

Meanwhile, BCB will be gearing up to work along with the OPM to train 120 young cricketers in computer technology, with Neil Rudder spearheading that drive.

BCB president Hilbert Foster and Competition Chairman Leslie Solomon would meet with clubs across Berbice next Saturday. Clubs across the county would shortly benefit from a donation of scorebooks.

The current balance of the BCB account is a whopping $3.7M according to Foster and the board’s account will be further boosted with a $500 000 donation from Mr Brian Ramphal of the USA.

Mr Poonai Bhigroog of Poonai Pharmacy will sponsor a $300 000 educational Trust Fund for his late father. Thirty youth players would each receive $10 000.

Berbice will be hosting an Under-15 team from the USA for a two-day match in March and would also be blessed with a visit from the USA-based MMZ CC team for a match.

The BCB office is undergoing some minor repairs due to a problem with wood ants. The BCB would be setting up a special award to honour outstanding club officials across the county.