PUMPS $1M INTO HIS COUNTY CRICKET DEVELOPMENT
The Berbice Cricket Board on Sunday, March 14 would create history in Guyana when it launches the Shimron and Nirvani Hetmeyer Berbice Cricket Development Trust Fund at the St Francis Community Developers Training Center.
The launching would be the first of its kind to be launched in the ancient county and represents the largest ever financial donation by a cricketer to the BCB, since its formation in 1939. The Hetmyers agreed to the formation of the Fund after reviewing a comprehensive proposal from BCB President Hilbert Foster.The West Indies middle order player had requested the President to submit the document after they had discussed the idea.
Foster explained that under the Trust Fund, the BCB would assist clubs across the county with $700,000.00 worth of cricket balls while two hundred thousand dollars would be given to a cricketer attending the University of Guyana. The cricketer must be living in the Canje/New Amsteram or East Berbice Canje sub area. In the event that a suitable candidate is not found, the funds would be equally divided to four cricketers attending secondary school and preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations.
The remaining one hundred thousand dollars would be used to reward the Most Valuable Player for the four intercounty tournament, that Berbice is expected to play in 2021.The MVP of the under 15,under 17, under 19 and female tournament would each receive twenty five thousands dollars each.
The couple has made it quite clear that the sponsorship would continue for the duration of the current President’s term of office. Hetmyer, who led to the West Indies to Under 19 World Cup glory in 2016 has been very supportive to Foster led administration has over the last three years assisted with funds for the BCB/RHTYSC Christmas Charity Programmes, BCB Intermediate tournament and last handled over funds for the hosting of two grass-root one-day cricket tournaments at the Rose Hall Canje and Young Warriors Grounds.
Foster ,expressed gratitude to the couple for their support and stated that with assistance, Berbice cricket would continue to expand as the board strives to take the county game to its highest level ever. He stated that his objective is to make the county the role model in Caribbean Cricket and to make sure that every cricketer in the county fulfills his or he full potential on the cricket field and in the classroom.
Hetmyer who has represented the West Indies in sixteen test matches and forty-five ODI matches stated that he was very impressed with the Foster-led administration leadership of Berbice cricket and was delighted to assist. The BCB has sent an official invitation to President Irfaan Ali, to be the guest speaker at the launching of the trust fund.