Regency Suites/Buddy’s International W/Berbice U-23 cricket launched

Jun 21, 2008 Sports

By Sean Devers
In an effort to have more cricket at more levels played across Guyana, the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) in collaboration with the President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Bish Panday, has acquired sponsorship from the Shivraj brothers, Buddy and Paul for a 13-team under-23 competition in West Berbice.

The sponsorship cheque of $230,000 and the championship trophy was yesterday handed over to WBCA President David Black at the Regency Suites in Georgetown.

Gangaram Basdeo, General Manager of the Hadfield Street Hotel, handed over the cheque and Trophy and explained that the Shivraj brothers hails from Bush Lot in Region 5 and were happy to be a part of the sponsorship for the inaugural under-23 cricket tournament in Berbice.

“They (Shivraj brothers) are from West Berbice and this is a way of giving back to that area. Sports can help youths to stay away from drugs and crime and we at Regency Suites and also at Buddy’s International Hotel are pleased to be associated with this competition,” Basdeo added.

Panday, who used his business network to organise the sponsorship, disclosed that although he is the President of the GCA he wants to see cricket develop nationwide if the game is to really continue to flourish as Guyana’s national sport.

“If Guyana’s cricket is to improve, cricket cannot be only developed in Georgetown or Lethem but all over this country and this is why I am committed to helping in any way I can to Guyana’s cricket development.

The Shivraj brothers come from West Berbice and readily agreed to lend their companies support to this important competition,” Panday, an executive of the Guyana Cricket Board, informed. Geographically, West Berbice lies between West Bank Berbice and the Abarry Bridge and 13 teams will vie for top honours in this competition which has a winning prize of $50,000 and a runner-up prize of $25,000.

The 50-over round-robin tournament will commence as soon as the rainy season is over and the final will be played at either the Blairmont or the Bush Lot ground.
Blairmont is the only first-class cricket venue in region five while Bush Lot and Paradice are the other first division ground in West Berbice.

Black and WBCA’s Treasurer Kelsie Duncan represented the WBCA and Black, the WBCA President for the past five years, said the concept of the competition was born after he noticed that while under-15, 17 and 19 cricket was catered for, there was a problem making the transition to the higher level for those players who complete under-19 cricket but are not fortunate to get into first division teams.

“In the whole of West Berbice there are only two first division teams (Blairmont and West Berbice) and this makes it more difficult for young players in the area to play at the first division level.

This competition should help those who have just finished under-19 cricket to play competitively at a higher level,” Black said
He said that he discussed the importance of under-23 cricket for the development of players hoping to become first-class players with Territorial Development Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board, former West Indies pacer Colin Stuart and feels that now West Berbice has started the ball rolling, other areas should organise under-23 cricket also.
The winner and runner-up of each of the two zones will clash in the semi-finals.