The spectacular success of the West Indies cricket teams at ICC world tournaments earlier this year represents the latest milestone in a long journey in the development of the game in the Caribbean, the foundation of which was laid by selfless cricket administrators who worked tirelessly over the years without fanfare and recognition.
Lately, the importance of generous stakeholders has been underlined by their important and mutually beneficial partnerships with the national cricket organisation to further provide opportunities for the young cricketers to fully develop through training and competition on the local, regional and international stage.
This context, in the midst of the euphoria of sweet victory, was framed by first vice-president of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Allen Sammy, in his short address at an official function organised by the TTCB and the local Women's Cricket Federation for the nation's players who formed part of the West Indies men's and women's T20 teams, and the Under-19 men's squad.
T&T contributed 17 representatives to the three regional squads which in the space of six weeks snatched the prestigious senior ICC T20 championships in India, and the Under-19 tournament's top prize in Bangladesh.
Present last Tuesday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva, to bask in glowing adulation and accept tokens of appreciation for their sterling efforts were wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, spinner Samuel Badree, Under-19 players Jyd Goolie and Kirstan Kallicharan; women's cricketers Anisa Mohammed, Merissa Aguilliera, Stacy-Ann King and Britney Cooper.
Not to be forgotten were manager of the West Indies women's squad Ann Browne-John, who is also the vice-president of the T&T Women's Cricket Association; Oba Gulston, the physiotherapist who kept the women's squad in shape; and Dinesh Mahabir, the video-analyst attached to the U-19 cricketers.
Among those who attended the function were leading TTCB officials Arjoon Ramlal, secretary-general; treasurer Sukesh Maniam, CEO Suruj Ragoonath, executive member Baldath Mahabir, Cricket Operations Officer Dudnath Ramkissoon, and former national security minister Brigadier Carl Alfonso who is also a North Zone representative.
Among the top women's officers were president of the national association Jocelyn Francois Opadeyi, Ingrid Maxwell and Monica Sobers-Hylton.
Sammy, one of the stalwarts since the formation of the then T&T Cricket Council (TTCC) in 1980, said he was very pleased to be part of the recognition process highlighting the perseverance of the cricketers in the face of criticism and serious challenges which they overcame to prove their true worth.
And in congratulating the world champions, Sammy nuanced the great contribution that corporate sponsors the NGC Group, Courts Trinidad Ltd and BGTT have been making with partnerships lasting six years, 16 years and 21 years, respectively.
He said that dedicated coaches, administrators and managers in varied portfolios have been around even longer, making a collective effort, mostly unheralded and unrecognised, which he said pointed the way for the present achievements.
Sammy recalled his ten-year stint (1981-1991) as general-secretary of the first TTCC, when the sport was handed over to a democratically elected body by the Queen's Park Cricket Club, following a government Commission of Inquiry into the game's governance.
He said five years after, the search started in earnest to find a permanent home for cricket and several options were contemplated, including Naparima College in San Fernando, Walker Park in Caroni, the site of the present Learning Resource Centre in St Mary's, Couva and land at Rivulet Road, for which $1,000 was paid by the TTCC for surveying. However, he said, these plans never materialised.
It was not until 17 years later that the present site of the National Cricket Centre in Balmain was purchased from Caroni Ltd by the TTCB under the stewardship of Alloy Lequay, in a time of financial stress when funding was not readily available.
The TTCB now holds the distinction of being the only national sports organisation which owns its own property, a 17-acre facility which it continues to develop into a first class venue and currently houses the widely-acclaimed Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre, and the Dr Alloy Lequay Administrative Centre, in addition to the adjoining NCC Ground.
Sammy said he reflects on those days of hard work, perseverance and the growing pains of the early cricket pioneers when he hears some of the enthusiastic younger generation demanding immediate action on varied issues affecting the sport, and society's ills in general.
He said the early custodians of the game believed in inclusion and brought village clubs into the fold from every corner of the nation, building capacity and creating avenues for cricketers to flourish, a journey which he said continues until today.
Sammy said that it was worth mentioning the names of several zonal officials who made their mark at the grassroots level and they include:
�2 North-East: Arjun Bhagaloo, Sonny Ali Sheikh, Dr Claudius Fergus
�2 East: Dr Baldwin Mootoo, Sonnylal Bachoo, Ram "Reds" Chatee, Ramcharitar Rickhi
�2 North: Egbert Solomon, Ronald Cape
�2 Central: Towheed Ali, Lalman Kowlessar, Rambhai Patel, Dudnath Ramkessoon, Krishna Singh
�2 South: Hamza Mohammed, Harry Narine, Ellis Lewis, Imtiaz Hassanali
�2 South-West: Suren Dhaniram, Ellis Lewis
�2 South-East: Alvin Hackshaw, Alston Abraham, Selwyn McKnight.