Dear Editor,
The attention of the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board has been drawn to a letter under the caption ‘Why was Amsterdam selected ahead of Baichan for the BCBC all time XI?’ (SN 15.12.08) and would like to make the following points to clear up the misinformation provided by Mr Len Singh. To date the Stabroek News and Guyana Chronicle have carried the letter.
1. Leslie Amsterdam was never selected in front of Leonard Baichan because both of them are not in the team. In fact Leonard Baichan is the 12th man in the team while Amsterdam is the 13th man.
2. The team is a Berbice All Time XI and not a BCBC All Time XI.
3. For the general public’s information, the team in batting order is Roy Fredericks, Clayton Lambert, Rohan Kanhai (Captain), Alvin Kallicharran, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Randolph Ramnarace, Milton Pydana, Mahendra Nagamootoo, John Trim and Leslaine Lambert with Baichan 12th man and Amsterdam 13th.
4. The three selectors were selected based on experience, knowledge of the game and are known as fair-minded individuals. Their contribution to Berbice cricket is beyond doubt and they have seen all the players on the cricket field.
5. They were mandated to select the Berbice All Time XI to represent the country in a cricket match and not the greatest XI. The selectors therefore in their wisdom, selected two opening batsman, four middle order batsmen, one wicket keeper, one all-rounder and three bowlers.
6. Mr Singh has his information all wrong as he claims that Baichan, Ivan Madray, Sewdatt Shivnarine and Romain Etwaroo were not among the considered players. Baichan is the 12th man so surely he was considered. The Berbice All Time XI billboard which is at the BCBC office clearly states that ten others were considered for selection but did not make the team. Those players are Shivnarine, Madray, Romain, and Tyrone Etwaroo, Keith Cameron, Sudesh Dhaniram, ‘Sugar Boy’ Baijnauth, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergooon and Sunny Moonsammy.
7. Mr Len Singh, who I believe must care about Berbice cricket, if he had been following the numerous developments in Berbice cricket would not have expressed the view that he hoped that the All Time XI was not a decoration exercise with Christmas around the corner. Rather, it is part of a planned and deliberate structure to develop the game. Among other parts of this are the Berbice Hall of Fame, Berbice Inter-county Caps system, Berbice Educational Awards Scheme, Annual Review Magazine, Tribute to Heroes Programme, Tribute to Cricket Workers Programme, Basil Butcher Trust Fund Aid Clinic, assistance to clubs and junior cricketers. All of these programmes along with numerous programmes came on board in 2008, not as Christmas decoration but rather as a result of sheer hard work and a vision for the future.
I would like to urge Mr Singh and others to join the BCBC in its drive to uplift the game and stop looking at everything through a narrow hole. I would also be grateful if he can contact me on 337-4562 or the BCBC on 333-2375 to uplift a copy of our upcoming 2008 Berbice Cricket Review Magazine which will be launched on 22.12.08. The magazine will provide information on the board’s work during the year and also information on the Berbice All Time XI.
Yours faithfully,
Hilbert Foster
Chairman Special
Events Committee.
