NGC invests $13m in cricket

The National Gas Company $13m into local cricket over the next three years. The wonderful news was delivered by Cassandra Patrovani-Sylvester the vice-president of Human and Corporate Relations at NGC, during a press conference at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday. NGC has been a sponsor of local cricket  for the past three years and to date has invested almost $10m. During the last term of the sponsorship the funds were allocated to a variety of endeavours for example, the preparation of the national team for the Champions League, as well as the domestic T20 and Zonal cricket.

Patrovani-Sylvester said: “As a company that has been particularly interested in youth development over the years, we were especially excited that a portion of our sponsorship funds went to support the TTCB’s Grassroots Development Programme, which helps to bring good coaching, equipment and playing areas to young enthusiasts throughout our communities. “I am pleased to say that the 2011 to 2013 sponsorship arrangement proved to be so beneficial to all parties that we were approached once again by the TTCB to continue our sponsorship for the period 2014 to 2016. We happily agreed to another arrangement which will see NGC disbursing TT$4.45M each year for the period 2014 to 2016.” The funds will be allocated in a similar manner but with a few changes. The restructuring of the Champions League T20 tournament has led to the item being removed from the funding schedule. Instead, the TTCB has proposed a reallocation of these funds towards other areas and the inclusion of new areas of support.

Once again, youth development will be on the agenda, as funds will be allocated to provide training for promising young cricketers at the National Academy and continued support for the Grassroots Development Programme. The 142 clubs that comprise the seven zones in Trinidad and the 12 clubs in the Tobago Zone, are also in line to receive subventions to cover their activities and expenses. President of the T&TCB, Azim Bassarath was on hand and thanked NGC for their continued support, saying that the NGC and the TTCB make the perfect partner. 
“We are very fortunate indeed that NGC has come on board with us for another three years. We have done a lot of work and there is still much to be done and having such a successful partner in NGC, can only lead to better things.”

Looking at the current crime situation in the country, Bassarath said the TTCB stands ready to join the government in trying to eradicate the ills through sport. “We at the TTCB are eagle-eyed and is willing to get involve with the government in doing our part through cricket to help rid this country of its social ills. Cricket and sport on the whole is an important tool in helping with social transformation and the TTCB stands ready to do its part.” Meanwhile, the TTCB also used the occasion to reveal the names of the players who would be representing this country in the upcoming Regional Super50 tournament that will be staged here from January 30. Missing from the line-up is leg-spinner Samuel Badree, who has been overlooked in preference for the leg-spinning all rounder Imran Khan. Keiron Pollard is still not ready for action and also misses out. Apart from these guys the squad is packed with the regulars and chairman of selectors Alec Burns says that he thinks they have the right formula for success. The full team includes Dwayne Bravo (capt), Adrian Barath, Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Imran Khan, Kevon Cooper, Ravi Rampaul, Rayad Emrit, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Jason Mohammed and Yannick Ottley.