– Minister Dharamlall continues support of his county cricket

The main objective of the Berbice Cricket Board in 2023 is to invest heavily in the unearthing of new cricketing talents in the ancient county.

This will be done via an aggressive county wide coaching programme in clubs and schools, cricket tournaments at the primary and secondary levels and assisting clubs and schools with the necessary items for them to fulfil their mandate.

The plans of the progressive board on Wednesday last received a major boost when two government ministers renewed their commitment to play a major role in the county cricket development.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall both held separate meetings with BCB President, Hilbert Foster and the discussion centred on the activities of the board in 2023.

Minister Bharrat, who is also the patron of the BCB in 2023 would be investing three million dollars into the Patron Fund. Under the fund, first division clubs in the county would receive one million dollars worth of white cricket balls while the county would also benefit from coaching equipment, youth development seminars, coaching sessions and regular upgrading sessions for cricket officials.

One such programme would be a refresher course for coaches and a captaincy seminar for all youth captains in the county.

The BCB patron also committed to playing a major role in making sure that the plans for a Berbice under 21 team tour to Jamaica in April is successful.

The plan is for a 14-man squad and two officials to play three one day matches over a one week visit as part of the county developmental programme.

Minister Bharrat also informed the BCB he would assist two promising Berbice players to fulfil their rich potentials on the cricket field by investing into their careers.

Minister Bharrat established the fund when he was appointed Patron in 2020 and has played a major role in the rapid development of the county cricket over the last three years.

Under the last Patron Fund, clubs received balls, hundreds of youths benefitted from the hosting of four personal skills seminars and dozens of cricketers received educational grants.

Minister Dharamlall last year assisted the BCB with the employment of 19 cricket coaches under the Government of Guyana 10 days working programme and also supported with coaching equipment for the same programme.

This year, the Berbice born Member of Parliament would be working along with the board to assist in the development of several concrete pitches in the county and playing cricket in the primary and secondary schools.

Foster expressed thanks to the two ministers for their assistance and also hailed the government’s massive investment in sports this year as a step in the right direction. The BCB, he stated, is very grateful for the investment that the Irfaan Ali government has made in the development and upgrading of several cricketing venues in Berbice.

He also expressed confidence that several more venues would be upgraded in 2023.