Youth cricketers to benefit from joint BCB/Clayton Lambert project
Since taking over the reign of the Berbice Cricket Board in February 2018, the Hilbert Foster-led executive body has assisted over 200 youth cricketers.
Additionally, cricket clubs in the County have also receive over G$10 million worth of assistance in the form of cricket gear, stumps, balls, water pitchers, rain coats, educational materials, food hampers, school bags and bicycles among others.
Foster, in his acceptance speech on been elected to the Presidency, had pledged to assist young cricketers to fulfill their potentials on and off the cricket field.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BCB has kept itself busy, working behind the scene to develop Berbice Cricket further. Those efforts have been bearing fruits with the latest being a special project involving former Guyana and West Indies opening batsman, Clayton Lambert.
Foster had approached the former opener in an effort to obtain cricket gear for promising youth cricketers, especially those in the East Bank of Berbice area.
Lambert readily agreed to Foster’s request and on Tuesday last, informed the BCB President that he had secured a large quantity of cricket gear, which would be distributed free of cost. They include bats, pads, gloves and thigh pads among others.
Lambert informed the BCB President that many persons were delighted with the current development trajectory of Berbice Cricket and as such were eager to assist.
A shipment of gear has already left India for the United States of America and then would be shipped to the BCB, compliments of Caribbean International Shipping. The company has agreed to assist Lambert in this project, while former West Indies captain Alvin Kallicharran has also agreed to work along with Lambert on the project.
The shipment also includes a large quantity of white cricket uniforms, which would be shared out to less fortunate cricketers. Lambert also informed the BCB President that a special supply of coloured clothing would also be ordered under the Gortonshire Lambada brand.
Foster disclosed that the coloured uniforms would be donated to two struggling first division teams. The Gortonshire Lambada brand is a new one and is dedicated to Lambert, who currently coaches in the USA.
Lambert stated that he was delighted to give back to Berbice Cricket and to play a part in the development of new talents in the county.
Now 58, Lambert made his debut for Guyana at the Regional Under-19 level in 1979 and also appeared in 1980, the year he also captained Berbice. He first represented Berbice in the Jones Cup Inter-County Tournament in 1983 and captained Berbice in 1986, 1990, 1991 and 1998.
Lambert made his debut for the senior Guyana team in 1984 and in August, 1991, made his Test debut at the Oval against England. He later migrated to the USA, where he represented that country at the international level as a player and coach.
Foster expressed gratitude to Lambert for his cooperation and for remembering his home county. He also urged former Berbice players to join Lambert in his efforts.