Dr. Puran Singh National Players Financial Scheme

Jan 28, 2020 Sports

Dr. Singh renews sponsorship for 2020 as support for Berbice Cricket pours in

Berbice junior and female cricketers would continue to benefit from the Berbice Cricket Board in 2020. The BCB has renewed its sponsorship package with overseas based Guyanese medical doctor, Dr. Puran Singh for the hosting of the 3rd annual national players scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to assist Berbice Under 15, Under 17, Under 19 and female cricketers financially once they gain selection at the national levels.

Dr. Singh poses with Kevin Sinclair and Nial Smith after presenting them with bats.

Dr. Singh started to sponsor the scheme in 2019, while the BCB used its own funds in 2018 to launch the ambitions project.
BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS whose idea was to establish the scheme, hailed the renewal of the sponsorship as another red-letter day in the rapid development of Berbice Cricket. Foster, noted that on his election to the Presidency of the BCB in February 2018, a parent approached him for assistance to purchase a pair of uniforms for her child who was going to play for Berbice at the Under 15 level. The parent in tears told him that she was unable to purchase the uniforms because she was unemployed and didn’t want to shatter her child’s dream of playing cricket for Berbice. The idea for the national players was born at that moment, Foster stated, as poverty should not be the reason why a child should not fulfill his/her dreams.
The other objectives of the scheme are to encourage players to be proper role model, to represent the Berbice flag with pride and to act as an investment into the player’s career. The BCB, Foster stated, is very committed to making sure that all of its players have equal opportunities to develop their talents. The financial scheme is just one of the programmes directed at assisting youths with the board planning to host numerous coaching programmes, educational sessions, cricket academy and social/etiquette programme. Additionally, the BCB would be hosting numerous cricket events at the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, Under 21, Under 23, Primary School, Secondary School and female levels in an aggressive effort to unearth and develop talents across Berbice.
Since the establishment of the scheme in 2018, the BCB has handed out, close to $700,000 to its players and officials. Under the scheme, players and team officials would receive $10,000 each to assist them to prepare for the different tournaments.
Dr. Singh, who is based in Barbados and is the younger brother of BCB main sponsor Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, last year contributed $300,000 and in 2020 would be investing $320,000. The elder Dr. Singh since 2018 has donated over $4M of his own funds to the BCB to sponsor countywide coaching, annual cricket academy, restoration of the BCB office, preparation of inter county teams.
Dr. Puran Singh stated that it was with pride that he agreed to renew the sponsorship as he was totally pleased with the work of the Hilbert Foster led administration. He praised the BCB for its accountability of his funds, regular reports with photos and providing media coverage of the activities of the scheme. Dr. Singh committed to sponsorship of the scheme in the future and expressed confidence that Berbice would continue to produce players of excellence at all levels. On Sunday last, Dr. Singh hosted the Guyana Senior Cricket team at his Barbados home and presented Berbicians Kevin Sinclair and Nial Smith with bats. Dr. Singh is an awardee of the BCB highest award, Tribute to Heroes.