HAVING partnered with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the now defunct Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in previous years, the Neal and Massy Group of Companies yesterday joined forces with the dynamic Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to sponsor that entity’s Intermediate competition. “When the West Indies opposed Pakistan in Guyana’s first limited overs match that was held at the Albion Community Centre ground, Geddes Grant by virtue of being a sponsor of West Indies cricket, through the Geddes Grant/Harrison Line Regional limited overs tournament, was affiliated with that match.”
Those were the words of Chief Executive Officer of Neal and Massy Deo Persaud, prior to presenting the cheque of $410 000 to assistant treasurer of the BCB Romesh Munna, in the presence of Angela Haniff, Hilbert Foster and Bish Panday, along with other officials from Neal and Massy.
Persaud said his entity was pleased to be associated with cricket once again, having sponsored several tournaments in the past, including the nationwide Neal and Massy first division tournament which was last played in 2010.
“We are pleased to be associated with cricket once again and what better way to do so than with the Berbice Cricket Board, who has been doing a wonderful job with regard to cricket and has been on the move, producing Test cricketers of high calibre in times past.
“I am sure that what we are doing here today, with regard to sponsoring their Intermediate tournament would help with the production of more cricketers not only for Guyana, but the West Indies as well in the near future,” said Persaud.
In his brief remarks, Foster who is also the Chairman of the BCB’s Special Events Committee said the current BCB-organised New Building Society second division tournament is permitting clubs to field one first division tournament while the Intermediate tournament would allow them to field three or four such players.
“A special emphasis with regard to the development of our Under-17 and -19 players, will be placed on this tournament, since it is the go-between the first and second division with team being divided into four sub-zones, namely Upper and Central Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and West Berbice.
The BCB would like to assure the sponsor that the tournament would be well organised as usual, while the sponsor and their products would be well promoted as never before in the Ancient County, as we are proud to have them on board with us, joining an elite group of sponsors,” stated Foster.
Highlighting that the progress of the BCB over the past four to five years can be described as unbelievable, Foster said over 45 off-the-field activities have already been completed for this year, which punctuates the BCB’s confidence of reaching and even surpassing their target of 80 off-the-field projects.
“Berbice cricket is the standard-bearer of the game in Guyana and to an extent the Caribbean and we intend to keep it that way.
Our progress has been unbelievable and also a revolution and we know that the game would never be the same in Berbice again, for which we say ‘welcome on board Neal and Massy’ as we lead the restoration of Guyana’s and West Indies cricket together.”
The winning team will pocket $60 000 and a trophy while the runner-up team will receive $30 000 and a trophy at the completion of the tournament which is set to bowl off mid next month.