A few months ago, local cricket boards were questioning the non-selection of Guyanese players in the West Indies team. Shimron Hetmyer’s contract snub as a result of fitness issues was a central topic of discussion.
Fast-forward a few months, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is now extending congratulations to the Berbician duo of Romario Shepherd and Hetmyer, who have earned selection to the West Indies One-Day International (ODI) team to play Australia in Barbados, commencing on July 20.
The CG Insurance ODI Series between the Aussies and the West Indies will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 20, 22 and 24, with all three matches scheduled as day/night encounters. First ball is 2:30pm (1:30pm Jamaica Time). There is great anticipation as this is Australia’s first tour of the West Indies since the tri-nation series back in 2016.
The series forms part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Super League, where both teams are aiming to win points to be one of the top seven teams that will secure automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
Below is the statement from BCB
The President and members of the Berbice Cricket Board would like to congratulate our very own Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd on their well-deserved selection to the West Indies ODI team for the upcoming tour of Australia to the Caribbean.
Shimron and Romario are among a breed of Berbice cricketers who are making us proud in the region and we are confident that they would keep the Berbice flag flying high. Kevin Sinclair is in the West Indies 20/20 team while Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi are in the West Indies A female team. Sadly, injury has kept Shemaine Campbelle from playing in the senior team.
There can be no doubt that the hard work of the BCB, along with all the clubs in Berbice, is bearing fruits. Only Berbice is producing players for the regional male team from Guyana and we would continue to work hard for more players to come forward. Congrats to you guys and we would be rooting for you and the West Indies team.