When the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) holds its Annual General Meeting today at its office, Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam, Roy Jafarally will challenge incumbent Hilbert Foster for the leadership of the board.
Jafarally, 40, confirmed his ambitions to lead the BCB into a new era yesterday and indicated that he has a slate to contest the elections but opted not to disclose, who the other members are.
Jafarally, who is the president of the Rose Hall Canje Sports Club, explained that the basis for his decision to run was a passion to bring about “a levelled playing field for all clubs and cricketers across the county.”
While, Jafarally opted not to comment on the work of the current administration, he posited that he has been getting encouragement from around the region to run for the post.
This, the former first-division captain believes, signals an unhappiness among the stakeholders with the way the game is being run.
The businessman and international chef told Stabroek Sport that there is much more room for improvement especially at the embryonic stages.
“I will be pushing to ensure programmes at the young stages of around seven to nine years where not a lot has been done at these stages,” Jafarally said.
The prospective president, who owns and captains SVC Grill Masters softball team, clarified that there are indeed programmes for the younger players but said that “a one-off camp is insufficient.”
He is proposing to have a continuous influx of programmes to help develop players not only in the sport but academically also.
The Fort Ordinance Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman made the comparison to the efforts made by cricket giants, India and Australia, pointing out that a pattern can be drawn from those two countries for the BCB to use and develop.
In addition to his proposals, Jafarally noted with a high level of disgust that the court issues are hampering the development of the sport and proposed to end all association with court actions relating to the BCB in an effort to mend the relationships with all cricket administrations.
“Court issues are hampering the game. They are unnecessarily stopping participation, banning and sanctioning players…it is disappointing that the GCB (Guyana Cricket Board) and BCB are at loggerheads,” Jafarally said.
Some 38 delegates from 13 clubs and three sub-associations will be eligible to vote. The clubs are Kildonan, Whim, Port Mourant, RHTYSC, Albion, Chesney, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Mental Hospital, Mount Sinai, Guymine, Blairmont and Police.
The three sub-associations are Upper Corentyne, West Berbice and Berbice River.
