The executive of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) met on Wednesday and decided that there will be no more cricket for this year under its aegis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision came after detailed conversations with representatives of the National League, zonal affiliates and clubs, and the TTCB was also guided in their deliberations by official government policy as enumerated by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
What prompted the decision was the fact that a prohibition on team sports is still in effect under the social distancing regulations imposed by the government in its three-phase plan announced on May 10, to reduce the lockdown imposed in mid-March.
Further, the TTCB announced that because of the incomplete status of all national cricket competitions, there will be no promotions or demotions for this season and that registration fees for the 2021 season will be waived.
General secretary of the TTCB, Surujdath Mahabir said: "The TTCB was persuaded to make these decisions in the best interest of cricketers and the general public in the face of the pandemic. Also taken into account was the current state of grounds on which matches are played as they are not prepared to host any cricket in the near future even if the government eases its COVID-19 restrictions on team sports within the near future.
"The TTCB has received the support of the Tobago Cricket Association, and the T&T Women's Cricket Association, who have also both decided to halt their cricket activities for the remainder of the year.
"The TTCB is also calling on all minor cricket leagues affiliated to the national organisation to immediately terminate their competitions in the best interest of public health and safety."
The former national player added that there will be no winners crowned for the season.
"There were still two rounds of matches to go in the main competition, so we have decided that there will be no winners this year. We are going to just cancel the cricket and start afresh in January, next year.
"There will be no promotions and demotions so the line-up of teams for the 2021 cricket season will be the same as it was this season. The only difference being one replacement in Division II because Tableland United pulled out of the cricket. We will look at the 2019 competition and the team that was next in line would come up to Division II."
He added that there will be no Under-17 Interzone tournament as well, although Cricket West Indies (CWI) has not yet officially decided against it.
"We are waiting on CWI but I think that since we normally host the U-17 tournament and we cannot play cricket here, then they may call that off. The U-19 may be played because of the upcoming U-19 World Cup. If that is the case, then we may have to arrange an U-19 Interzone tournament or find some way to choose an U-19 national team to take part in that tournament."