The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has partnered with Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies to stage a 40-over Inter-Club tournament for teams in the West Berbice district.
Former Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board and current Marketing Coordinator of the BCB, Bishwa Panday, was instrumental in securing the sponsorship, which is valued $220,000.
During the presentation ceremony yesterday in the Boardroom of the insurance company, Public Relations Officer of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, said: “We are confident that tournament would not only be highly successful, but would assist us to unearth new talents for Berbice cricket in the area.”
Foster noted that the BCB will place special emphasis on West Berbice this year as the area has “over the years been neglected by a very inactive cricket association.”
Apart from the 40-over competition, the area will also have its own two-day inter-zone as well as 20/20 tournaments.
“In addition, assistance has been provided to clubs in the area, while a massive coaching programme is being implemented, including one-day cricket academies and coaching clinics,” Foster said.
Speaking on behalf of Hand-in-Hand (Fire), Manager Howard Cox said his company is happy to sponsor the competition in Berbice during a period when sponsors are skeptical being part of the GCB due to the current cricket imbroglio.
Cox credited the BCB for doing a superb job and stated that his company had no hesitation to assist them.
“There is no doubt that the BCB is being administered by a competent set of individuals and I must say that it is no strange territory for us to be associated with cricket, as we have done so with the now embattled Demerara Cricket Board for over 20 years,” Cox recalled.
“Our organization is of the view that the BCB has good intentions for cricket. Regularly when we look at the newspapers we and all of Guyana can see the number of activities they are engaged in. The BCB can be assured that we at Hand-in-Hand will be willing to assist in any small way that we possibly can in the future,” Cox said in conclusion.
The competition, which will begin as soon as the rainy season is over in Berbice, will feature 16 teams, among them Blairmont, Bush Lot, Shieldstown, Cotton Tree, Rosignol, D’Edward and Rainbow Generation.
The champion team will receive $50,000 and trophy, while the runner-up will collect $30,000 and trophy.
