The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday last, held a special ceremony at the St Francis Community Developers Centre where nine under-19 females who gained selection to the national side were given financial stipends of $10,000 each under the Dr Puran Singh Incentive Scheme.
Berbice Cricket Board President, Hilbert Foster, exhorted the recipients, “We at the Berbice Cricket Board are very proud of each one of you.
Our decision to invest heavily into female cricket is one of our best ever and each one of you is proof that it was a wise one. Go out and make sure that you represent the legacy of [Rohan] Kanhai, [Basil] Butcher and [Alvin] Kallicharran with pride, passion and dedication.
You are following in the footsteps of Shemaine Campbelle, who without doubt is the best female cricketer Guyana has ever produced, do not disappoint her.”
The nine players will leave Guyana shortly to participate in the Cricket West Indies Under-19 female tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
Under the incentive scheme, the BCB would provide ten thousand dollars to every Berbice player who gains selection to the national team at the under-15, under-17, and under-19 levels.
Foster spoke of the importance of the girls understanding their role as ambassadors of the Berbice brand.
He urged the players to follow the basics and to remember what they would have learned from their cricket coaches during the numerous coaching sessions organised by the BCB.
Apart from the local coaches, Berbice junior female players were involved with coaches like Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Jimmy Adams, Dr Desmond Haynes, Roland Butcher, Courtney Walsh, Nolan Mckenzie, Clyde Butts, Reon King and Sheik Mohamed.
West Indies cricketing legend, Courtney Walsh, congratulated the players on their selection to the national team and urged them to perform to their best. He also spoke of the importance of being disciplined, focussed, and dedicated.
The former world record holder told the players he would be following their performance with keen interest as they are the future of West Indies women’s cricket. Captain of the team, Ashmini Munisar, expressed thanks to the BCB and Dr Singh for their support and committed the players to making the ‘Ancient County’ very proud.
The other members of the team are Trisha Hardat, Priya Mahadeo, Leah Kamalall, Jamie Campbell, Niveena Ramnauth, Crystal Durant, Darshanie Subrammie, and Realeanne Grimmond.
Dr Puran Singh is a Berbice native who now resides in Barbados. He has been a major sponsor of Berbice cricket since 2019.
