Despite the difficulty of attracting sponsorship throughout Guyana, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has always prided itself on its ability to attract sponsors ever since Hilbert Foster took over as president in February 2018.
The BCB, in 2018, defied the odds and hosted in excess of 60 tournaments. However, with the novel Coronavirus commonly known as Covid-19 spreading through the globe, the BCB will not be able to hold so many tournaments.
“With the uncertain climate, we do not know when cricket can restart. The BCB might be forced to reduce to just 12 or 13 tournaments in 2020, a big drop from the projected 25,” Foster told this newspaper in an exclusive interview.
According to Foster, cricket has stopped entirely in the county, not even afternoon practice and BCB staff members have been confined to working from home as the office doors have been shut until further notice.
The BCB executives have also decided to defer monthly meetings until the issue is controlled.
With the pandemic becoming more and more threatening, the closure is likely to continue throughout April.
As a direct result, the proactive board was forced to delay, with the possibility of cancellation, the start of several tournaments at the U17, U19 and second-division levels.
He reasoned that with businesses taking a hit due to the pandemic and other issues, it is difficult to attract more sponsorship.
Foster informed that at least three tournaments including one of its longest running first-division tournament will not be played this year since sponsors have indicated they are unable to support.
Particularly worrying for the BCB President is the uncertainty of its inaugural Berbice Premier League due to a number of stakeholders signaling their inability to help with sponsoring the event.
“The BCB may be forced to put on hold its plan for the first ever Premier league in August as sponsorship from almost all companies have been put on hold. If the situation continues for another month, the Premier League would be pushed back to 2021,” he reckoned.
Additionally, the semifinal of the Banks Beer two-day, first-division tournament, Mike’s Pharmacy U15, Asphalt Premium/ T and R construction T20 and Friends of New Amsterdam 100-ball tournaments have been shelved for the time along with the GBTI Inter-Secondary Schools tournament and the final of the Elizabethan Styles U-21, Lewison General Store U-15, Let’s Bet Sports 100-ball and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association/Price is Right T20 competitions.
The Ramnaresh Sarwan U-17 tournament, as well as the quarter final of the NBS 40-over second division tournament, has also been halted.
Off the field, the county-wide Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme is yet to commence while the annual awards ceremony which is planned for May could face reduction.
Nevertheless, Foster posited, “BCB using the time to properly plan a reduced Award Ceremony in May, a much wider coaching programme for youths and a stronger educational structure. We would also use this period to strengthen the BCB self-reliance and Management structure.”
He added, “Special emphasis would also be placed on the preparation of the BCB U19 team for the Inter-County tournament.” Foster reiterated that he encourages the players to train by themselves and remain fit while following the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health.
