Tenelec Inc., became the latest company to team up with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) after they injected US$ 5400 for the hosting of two tournaments.
Tenelec Inc., is co-owned by Bobby Deonarine and Tom Gruentzel and it provides services to the American public in the electrical and telecom sectors.
At a simple presentation ceremony at the Albion Ground, BCB president, Hilbert Foster said, “On behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board, I would like to welcome you back as an official sponsor of our cricket and I am confident that your investment would assist us to produce more international players like you did in the past. Berbice cricket is now widely considered the role model of cricket administration and we look forward to working along with you and Tenelec Inc., to lift it even further.”
The sponsorship will be used to stage a knockout 50 overs-a-side tournament for the county’s 11 first-division teams and a round robin under-15 tournament among 16 teams.
Foster disclosed that despite the ongoing rainy season, a total of six matches have been played to date and the tournament will be used to select the Berbice team for the 2022 Under 15 Guyana Cricket Board tournament. Among the teams in the Tenelec Under-15 tournament are Achievers, Cotton Tree, Tucber Park, Guymine, Mt Sinai, Albion, Rose Hall Canje, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Port Mourant and Upper Corentyne.
The 50-over knock out tournament will be played in early 2022 and contested by Blairmont, West Berbice, Police, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Young Warriors, Albion, RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne and Skeldon.
A release from the BCB indicated that it is considering a team from the Berbice Riverain area and that a final decision will be made early next year by the executives.
Among the players expected to participate in the tournament are Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Guadakesh Motie, Veersammy Permaul, Kevlon Anderson, Nial Smith, Shimron Hetmyer, Anthony Bramble, Keon Joseph, Jonathan Foo and Devendra Bishoo.
Foster reassured overseas-based Guyanese Deonarine, who is an uncle of test player Narsingh Deonarine, that his tournaments will be well organised and will be completed on time. The BCB president, who is also a Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board, stated that the board was committed to hosting at least four major first-division tournaments in 2022 and a total of at least 30 at all levels including juniors, seniors, internal zones and females.
Deonarine stated that he was delighted to be back with the BCB and expressed confidence in the current executives led by Foster. Berbice cricket, he stated, was very special to him and he would continue to invest as long as he can.
