Las Thursday the Berbice Cricket Board [BCB] launched two more tournaments as it continues its plan to host around 40 competitions this year.
The BCB launched the fourth Raffik Construction 100-ball and the second Premium Asphalt/TR Construction T20 tournaments.
Both competitions are for second-division clubs in the Lower/Central Corentyne area and form part of the BCB internal zone programme.
BCB President, Hilbert Foster has committed the board to organising a minimum of three tournaments every year for each of the five zones, namely, West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower /Central Corentyne, Upper Corentyne and Berbice River.
Rose Hall Town Bakewell are the defending Raffik Cup champions while Rose Hall Town Tigers are the defending champion Premium Asphalt/TR Construction T20 champions.
Foster thanked both sponsors for coming on board and reassured them that the tournaments will be well organised and completed within three months, once the weather does not intervene.
He spoke of the importance of second-division cricket in the county which allows the younger players to play with more seasoned ones while providing opportunities to the older players to be still involved in the game.
Close to 100 clubs in the county play at this level level with 24 in the Lower/Central Corentyne area.
Among the clubs down to play in the two tournaments are Kennard Memorial, Kildonan, Ramnarine Memorial, Whim, Tain Block Four, Port Mourant, Hampshire, Sand Reef, Fyrish, Courtland, Chesney, No I Road, Belvedere United, Nigg Intruders, Jai Hind and Albion Open.
Berbice cricket powerhouses Albion and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club will be debarred from the T20 tournament but will play in the Raffik Construction 100 balls tournament.
Foster said that this was to allow smaller clubs the opportunity to win a BCB title.
Teams will be allowed to play two first-division players per match while players below the age of 23 years, will not be considered first-division players.
Teams are also warned that all of their players have to be dressed in whites. Only Berbicians are allowed to play in the tournaments. Additionally, teams and players are expected to follow the COVID-19 guidelines laid down by the BCB or face disciplinary actions.
