President of the T&T Cricket Board Azim Bassarath has launched a stirring defence of the national cricket organisation as it gears up for its annual general meeting (AGM), and election of officers later this month.
Bassarath, who is tipped to be re-elected to head the TTCB for a third consecutive term, told attendees of the second biennial awards function of the T&T Umpires and Scorers' Council on Saturday last that the game has been well-served under his administration. The former umpire rattled off a long list of notable achievements locally, regionally and internationally by T&T cricketers which he said stand as testimony to the successful policies and plans of the TTCB.
He debunked the criticisms of some people who he said have embarked on a campaign to tarnish the image of the sport and disrupt the TTCB's smooth administration and record of success which they have worked very hard to achieve.
At present a number of member clubs are calling the TTCB boss to amend the constitution before the AGM to reflect One-Man One Vote" which will remove the unfair advantage that his executive enjoys with nominated members and executive officers having 12 votes even before the AGM takes place.
But Bassarath said the TTCB is fulfilling its mission to sustain and develop cricket as the most successfully organised sport in T&T which gives priority to its players, zones, clubs, administrators, affiliates and stakeholders.
"We have been providing administrative strength for 40 National League clubs, 122 zonal clubs, 12 women's clubs, 12 clubs in Tobago, 527 primary schools, 138 secondary schools, 200 umpires and scorers, the Women's Cricket Association and the Tobago Cricket Association" said Bassarath.
He noted the TTCB has an expansionary concept of cricket development which envisions a greater role for its stakeholders which will soon embrace all coaches, cricket analysts and other professionals who bring their expertise and knowledge to the game.
"This approach breaks the mould of the restrictive structure of the past and has overseen the phenomenal growth and success of women's cricket and the importance of schools (primary and secondary) which comprise the largest group of participants nationally to carry the torch of our development programmes," said Bassarath.
He pointed to the marked growth of the game in Tobago which he said continues to rise with the introduction of training programmes which are geared towards building capacity and create an environment to
nurture and encourage youngcricketers.
He said the TTCB administrative framework of governance has yielded immeasurable results with the emergence of a generation of outstanding cricketers following in the footsteps of Brian Lara, the greatest batsman to have played the game.
Bassarath pointed to the dominance of the national Red Force team in the shorter formats of the game (T20 and 50-Overs), and the string of successes enjoyed by the national age group teams in regional competition.