Businessman Imran Shaffeeullah has partnered with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to stage several developmental programmes within the region, with emphasis and prominence on the Upper Corentyne Sub-Association.
This was announced in an official release from the BCB. It further stated that the partnership will also encompass the BCB’s coaching project, as well as the initiating of a secondary school tournament and a pilot outdoor batting net project.
The schools competition will feature five institutions – Tagore Memorial, Skeldon Secondary, Line Path Secondary, Central Secondary, and Black Bush Polder Secondary. Similarly, the outdoor batting net project is pencilled for the venues of Crabwood Creek, Line Path, No# 72, and Skeldon.
A cheque for $200,000 was presented to the BCB towards the ongoing county-wide coaching project, which involves 19 individuals.
“The BCB with the assistance of Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall is organising the coaching project with the main objective of unearthing new cricketing talent across the county. The donation would be used to obtain junior cricketing equipment for the programme, especially batting pads for the smaller players,” the release stated.
BCB President Hilbert Foster thanked Shaffeeullah for his timely gesture, noting that the continued assistance from the private sector coupled with a proactive approach from the association, affords the county the ability to continue as the country’s main production line in the sport.
Foster also informed that approximately 200 participants between the ages 8 and 18 have benefitted from the course in Region Six to date, adding that the Region Five component is scheduled to commence in September.
Meanwhile, Shaffeeullah praised the current state of the sport in the county, affirming that he is committed to the development of the game on a larger scale.
“The BCB in early September would donate uniforms, cricket balls and gears to all the twenty-three schools in the county for the tournament while they would also benefit from a massive coaching programme, which would be sponsored by the National Milling Company. The programme which would be launched shortly will be a six- month project which would involve regular sessions in the twenty-three schools by the coaches’, the release added.
