Without competition since March 2020, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is set to begin its 2022 season with strong corporate support.
Yesterday, TTCB president Azim Bassarath confirmed that there will be sponsorship for “all our tournaments, with the exception of our national T20 League”.
At yesterday’s launch of the Inter Zone Youth Series which kicks off next Wednesday, it was announced that Tiger Tanks will be joining The Price Club Supermarket as sponsors of the series. Bassarath told Express the two companies were pouring a total of $221,000 into the series.
Apart from this, TTCB has also secured support from Dream 11 for its T10 tournament which starts on Saturday. Bassarath added that the TTCB’s 50th tournament this year will also have a sponsor.
“It’s because of the work we’ve done since last year,” he said. “We have done a lot of work on the ground to approach business people and sponsors who we know would like to make a contribution to youth development.”
And the TTCB president also expressed confidence that the T20 tournament will also get corporate support. “I am quite comfortable. I think when the T20 starts sometime in May, I’m confident that when people see what’s going on in terms of cricket, they’ll get on board.”
At yesterday’s launch, Bassarath said of The Price Club and Tiger Tanks: “Their investment in national and youth development at this important moment for the sport in the post-pandemic period will not go unnoticed and will ensure rewards invaluable to our cricketers.”
Addressing the audience at the Alloy Lequay Administrative Center in Couva, Tiger Tanks regional manager Denis Latiff called for an emphasis on the mental development of cricketers.
“I would like to see a tournament that increases the mental capacity of the players. Young people must have an idea to know where they are going; how to control their thoughts, their minds…and you will see the development; you will see them train better; you’ll see them play better.”
And Jason Abdool, Marketing Administrator of The Price Club added: “We at The Price Club are humbled and delighted to continue our partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board after nearly two years on this project due to the resulting constraints from Covid. -19 pandemics. Our commitment and determination to support the TTCB and the youth of our nation will always be unwavering.”
Addressing the work his board had done to prepare for a return to cricket, Bassarath said: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board continuously lobbied the Ministry of Health for the lifting of the sanctions providing evidence that sport can be safely resumed. Indeed, the TTCB is the first and perhaps the only national sports organization to come out with a Covid-19 protocols document as early as November 2020.”
The Inter Zone Series is scheduled to be played at seven different venues across the country. According to the Sports Ministry’s return to play policy, such venues must obtain approval as only fully vaccinated persons will be allowed to enter as players, officials or spectators.
Addressing the issue, Bassarath said, “The applications are in and we hope to get the approval by the time the tournament starts…All our tournaments, we submitted the applications about two weeks ago and it is getting attention from the Ministry of Sport and Sports Company.”
