President of the T&T Cricket Board (T&TCB) Azim Bassarath has stated that the cricket board will send a letter to the Minister of Housing requesting that the North-South Classic be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba to help prove that the venue is fit for cricket.
Last week the Minister of Finance Larry Howai stated he was informed that the Brian Lara Stadium is not suited for cricket due to geological reasons.
Bassarath said the North-South match is carded for end of the year or early in the new year and the president is hoping a successful match at the venue will encourage the Government to use the facility for cricket. Bassarath and his team is also requesting a visit to the stadium to see first hand what issues are preventing cricket being played.
Since Howai's announcement the T&TCB has not heard more details on the matter. Bassarath said: "We have not heard anything further, we are still waiting on information."
The T&TCB head also said it will be disappointing if the stadium is not used for sport after millions of dollars was already spent.
Bassarath was hoping that the Brian Lara Stadium would be the home of cricket in south Trinidad, as cricket matches in the southland provides an electrifying atmosphere.
If the Tarouba stadium is never completed Bassarath may look towards Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre and the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva as possible replacements.
Guaracara Park and NCC are used frequently but both venues will need upgrading to host regional cricket. "We are hoping that work will be done at Guaracara Park, the atmosphere is electric.
Hopefully the Ministry of Energy can pump some more money into Guaracara Park." Stands will have to be constructed at Guaracara Park and NCC as not enough seating is available for spectators.
Construction of the stadium started in 2005, and was scheduled to be completed for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which the West Indies hosted in 2007.
However since then the facility has been plagued with cost overrun and structural concerns.