Somwaru says B/ce cricket on the move

 Flashback! Scenes from the Dave and Celina All-Stars and Amazings contest at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition.
Flashback! Scenes from the Dave and Celina All-Stars and Amazings contest at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition.

Acting president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Dhieranidranauth Somwaru said Saturday that despite recent criticisms, cricket in Berbice is on the move.

He was referring to a call from Hilbert Foster for government intervention in the administration of cricket in Guyana which, according to Foster, was in disarray.

Dhieranidranauth Somwaru

“I would like to urge President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the Government of Guyana, to intervene in this situation before it is too late,” Foster was quoted as saying during his address at the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club 27th annual awards ceremony in Berbice.

“The Parliament of Guyana passed a Cricket Bill and it is the Law of Guyana. Unless it is overturned, all parties should respect it and the time to act is now,” said Foster.

“Mr. Prime Minister, as a Berbician and a proud uncle of one of our Test players, please assist us to

Hilbert Foster

save Berbice cricket. Let it be your legacy and I’m confident that every Berbician shall be proud of you,” he exhorted.

Somwaru, however, offered a different take.

“I want to tell the detractors in Berbice that even though we have been facing a lot of fire in the media with a number of letters, I wish to tell them that cricket is on the move and that we are trying our best, without finances at present, to train our boys and get them ready to win.”

Somwaru made his remarks at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, Saturday, whilst congratulating the Berbice U17 side for winning this year’s Inter-County competition.

The former regional umpire, who assumed the post of acting president following the resignation of Anil Beharry, was adamant about the board’s continued efforts to bring cricket “in order” while achieving success at the Inter-County level.

Moses Nagamootoo

When asked about his relationship with Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), Hilbert Foster, Somwaru said that they are friends and that he approached Foster to lock minds in an effort to push Berbice in the right direction.

Somwaru said that he had approached Foster twice to ask him to work with the BCB but he refused.

“I went personally to ask him. He’s my friend and I have no hesitation in saying that. I went two times to ask him to work with us and he has refused so I don’t know what else I can do.”

In a pleading tone, Somwaru added, “Let me be honest, I told him [Foster] that he has excellent organization skills and I would have like him to work with me, guide me and even advise me on certain issues but he has refused and I can’t help that. What Mr. Foster has to realize is that he is not the know-all of the cricket, neither am I and we all have to work together for the development of cricket in Berbice.”

Somwaru said that he was adamant about returning cricket in the Ancient Country to that dominant place it was once known for

David Granger

by first working to recommence first-division cricket in Berbice while also working to ensure that the next generation of Berbice cricketers are well taken care of.