Cricket West Indies (CWI) will have to write to the Ministry of National Security seeking clearance for any T&T player selected for the West Indies tour of England to leave the country. This was confirmed by Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh at the ministry’s virtual media conference on Monday.
His comments came a day after CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave told ESPN Cricinfo the plan is to gather the squad of 25 players in Antigua before they take a chartered flight to the United Kingdom on June 8 for the three-Test series.
Deyalsingh said, “They (CWI) will have to make their applications to all the local entities to have people fly out. That is not a matter for the Ministry of Health, that will be a matter for national security in Trinidad and the equivalent in any of the other islands where players will have to fly out from.”
The minister also addressed the letter that was sent to him by the Arima Race Club (ARC) which seeks permission to resume horse racing at Santa Rosa Park on Labour Day (June 19). In the letter sent by ARC president Robert Bernard, he stated that racing will take place behind closed doors, without patrons. Bernard also indicated that the club will abide by all the necessary health regulations the government has instituted. He told Guardian Media Sports on Sunday that, “Minister Deyalsingh responded promptly and from his response, we have gotten the feeling that we will be given the green light to race behind closed doors.”
However, when answering a question posed about the June 19 restart yesterday, the minister would neither confirm nor deny he gave clearance. Instead, he said, “Whether it is horse racing, whether it is the booksellers, whether it is places of religion, all are writing to me. We will make decisions based on striking the right balance between economic activity, job creation, public health and keeping people alive.”
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has left the sport of kings in a very tough position with Bernard confirming that some horses have been lost because some owners have pulled out of the game while others have sent their horses to the farm.
However, he said once given the green light to go ahead with racing, they will put together a competitive card on an opening day. He said last week the club brought in personnel to ensure that the required health protocols will be followed and implemented. “We will be able to put things in place and be ready when the decision is made as to race or not,” he said.