In a bid to improve the standard of cricket at the Preysal cricket club, chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC), Dave Persad has decided that only cricket will be played at the ground and approved a recommendation by the club for this move.Club president Anthony Harford led a delegation that included secretary Camal Basdeo and member Wazir Ali that met with Persad last Friday at the Corporations head quarters in Couva. Persad, after listening to their pleas decided to make the ground a 'cricket only' venue and will now shift football and other sports to the Polo ground a stone's throw away. Harford and company said that once the venue is used for other sports then it affects practice sessions for the cricketers, as well as destroys the playing surface and with the club playing in the top flight of local cricket, this was not ideal.
According to Persad :"Preysal cricket club is a household name in central and as a matter of fact Trinidad and Tobago. They have produced a number of great cricketers and now what the officials are telling me is that the quality of the cricket is being compromised because the venue is being used for a number of other sporting activities."What we have decided to do is to make the Inshan Ali Park, a 'cricket only' venue and the football and other sports will now be played at the Polo ground nearby." Recently the CTTRC handed over a new car park for citizens using the Inshan Ali Park and further work is to be done at the venue.The Polo ground is also getting a major upgrade as the CTTRC in conjunction with the National Gas Company (NGC) is installing a new pavilion, as well as playing field and basketball court for the residents of the area.According to Persad :"This arrangement I think would lead to betterment for all and we at the CTTRC will be supporting the people of the area in getting out and playing sports in order to lead a healthy lifestyle."