New Line Aqua Farm 1st division competition launched

Jun 05, 2009 Sports

DCB head says two-day cricket plays important role

Working to improve cricket in Demerara! DCB President Bissoon Singh (3rd right) sits with his executive and New Line Aqua Farm representative Seenarine Mathura (2nd right) at yesterday’s DCB launching of its first division two-day competition at the GCB Secretariat.

By Sean Devers
While the glitz and glamour of 20/20 cricket is undoubtedly providing plenty of new fans, plus much needed funds for players and officials, cricket connoisseurs still regard Test cricket as the ‘real deal’ in a world where instant gratification is becoming increasingly glorified.
President of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Bissoon Singh told the media yesterday at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretariat, his Board feels two-innings cricket is the best way to properly develop cricketers. Singh, also a Vice-President of the GCB was speaking at the launching of the DCB’s 14-team New Line Aqua Farm first division two-day competition which should bowl off in two weeks.

The sponsorship is worth $1.5 million and Singh disclosed that in addition to the City sides, three teams from the East Coast of Demerara, including the University of Guyana (UG), two teams from West Demerara and an East Bank combination will vie for supremacy in two zones.
The top two teams from each zone will advance to the semi-finals. Singh revealed that the format of the competition will be similar to the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) two-day tournament. Matches will commence at 09:30hrs each day with a minimum of 105 overs to be bowled in a day.
Prize money will amount to $300,000, while the DCB will pay umpires and provide balls, thus reducing the cost of participation for the clubs, which will only have to provide lunch and tea when they host matches.
At a time when the technical skill and temperament of our young cricketers are a major worry, the GCA is the only Association in Guyana, which has placed emphasis on two innings cricket this year and the DCB tournament comes at an opportune time for Demerara players outside of the Capital to develop proper cricketing skills.

While 20/20 and One-Day cricket are important and can be used to help fund the game’s overall development, it is widely felt that young players must learn the rudiments of ‘proper cricket’ before being exposed to the ‘slam bang’ format of the game’s shorter versions.
“This tournament is extremely important, because we believe it will serve as a catalyst to improve the quality of our cricketers. We are well aware of the recent (poor) performance of our National cricket team. We believe one of the problems is the lack of match practice when it comes to the longer version of the game. Our batsmen fail to adequately occupy the crease, while our bowlers on most occasions are unsuccessful in dismissing the opposition twice resulting in defeats or draws,” Singh, who is also the President of the East Coast Cricket Association, pointed out. Singh thanked the sponsors for their contribution at a time when businesses are affected by the global financial downturn. “This generosity was made possible by people who care about the development of the game, people who invest their money to ensure our cricketers get the opportunity to develop their game.” He stressed.
“Our cricketers will now have a real opportunity to enhance their ability to bat longer and make large scores, to bowl long spells and take wickets and ultimately improve the general standard of Demerara’s cricket,” Singh explained.

DCB Vice-President and head of the West Demerara Cricket Association, Anand Sanasie said the DCB negotiated well and got some extra money to facilitate the payment of umpires and balls for all of the 42 preliminary round games and the semis and final.
Sanasie reported that the sponsors had already committed to next year’s competition and was high in praise for the proprietor of New Line Aqua Farm (Salim Azeez) whom he said has been sponsoring cricket in West Demerara for the past four years.
Seenarine Mathura, Operations Manager of New Line Aqua Line Farm, said his company was honoured to be associated with the DCB cricket and committed to making the competition as annual event.
It was disclosed that the commencement of the competition was delayed because the DCB did not want to disrupt the GCA competition, which should soon be completed.
Enterprise and UG will join Lusignan as the East Coast teams, while New Line Cavaliers and West Demerara Mavericks are the West Demerara sides. GCC, DCC, Police, MSC, GDF, TSC, Everest & GNIC are the City teams.