WICB says there is no dialogue with BCB on Independence T20 Cup

May 24, 2014 Sports

Tournament remains unapproved

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) responded to an article appearing in yesterday’s edition of a local newspaper in Guyana headlined: ‘Talks over Independence T20 still on’

Anil Beharry

The Stabroek News reports that the President of the WICB Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron is in “dialogue” with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with regard to a cricket event in Berbice.
However, according to the release sent by Manager, Marketing & Communications of the WIBC, Imran Khan, “Cameron and the WICB wish to make it clear that he is in no such dialogue”
The release further stated that the WICB President received communication from (BCB executive) Anil Beharry who raised the matter.
“Cameron advised Beharry that the matter was a procedural one and the WICB had already made a declaration on the issue. The WICB’s position remains. The Independence T20 Cup does not form part of approved cricket of the WICB,” the WICB release continued.
Meanwhile, the BCB has indicated that two of the Corentyne teams slated to play in the tournament (Port Mourant and host club Albion) have withdrawn from the competition.
The competition is a joint initiative between the BCB and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce. Half of the proceeds will go to charity and the other half equally divided between the two Berbice entities.
The first year the tournament did not need approval from the Board since it was a softball tournament. However, last year’s hardball cricket was included and the BCB applied and was granted permission.
“But this year they never applied even though when we saw it in the media we wrote the BCB a letter to remind them that they needed to send a letter for approval from the GCB.
This is not Berbice Cricket since teams from East Coast and Georgetown are also involved,” a GCB official pointed out.