The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), in its ongoing effort to play cricket in every part of the Ancient County, has joined hands with the management of Dave West Indian Imports to launch a countywide Second Division 20/20 tournament.
The launching was done during the BCB/Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony at the St. Francis Community Training Centre. Cricketing legends Sir Andy Roberts, Dr. Desmond Haynes, Roland Butcher and Jimmy Adams were part of the historic launching.
BCB President Hilbert Foster disclosed that Managing Director of the company, Dave Narine, late last year had approached him, expressing an interest in sponsoring a countywide tournament.
“It was agreed that the company would sponsor a Second Division event. The tournament would first be played in five areas- Berbice River, New Amsterdam/Canje, West Berbice, Lower/Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. Teams in the five sub- associations would play each other on a round-robin basis and ending with a champion in each area,” the BCB highlighted.
“The five top teams would then square off in a special championship to produce an overall Berbice champion. Among the teams expected to play in the tournament are D’Edward CC, Cotton Tree, Blairmont, Bath, Paradise and Achievers of the West Berbice, while the favourites in the New Amsterdam/Canje would be Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, East Bank Blazers and Edinburgh. Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Port Mourant, Albion, Chesney, Rose Hall Tigers, Whim are all expected to dominate the Lower Corentyne area, while Upper Corentyne Zone would include Number 72 Cut and Load, Dukestown, Skeldon, Crabwood Creek and Number 73 Young Warriors.”
The champion in each sub-association would receive a financial prize and champion trophy, while the overall champion will take home G$100,000.
Foster expressed thanks to Narine for reaching out to the BCB. Narine, stated that he was very impressed with the direction that Berbice Cricket was heading and as a Berbician, he wanted to play a part in the way forward.
He stated that he was confident that new and promising talents would be unearthed during the tournament.
BCB Assistant Treasure Neil Rudder and Vice-President for Finance Dr. Cecil Beharry received the sponsorship cheque from Narine in the presence of the cricketing legends.
