“All facilities are ready and we are trying to go.”
That was the assurance given by Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath as Trinidad prepares to host the final three rounds of the four-day West Indies Championship, starting on Wednesday.
Trinidad will host nine matches, in three venues, from May 18 to June 4, after which one of the six franchises will be crowned champions.
The Diego Martin Sports Complex will make its first-grade debut hosting a key clash between second-placed Red Force and third-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes from Wednesday, while Queen’s Park Oval (PoS) and Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, will also host the matches.
Leaders Barbados Pride take on Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Oval while Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes clash at the BLCA in Tarouba, in round three.
Teams have already started arriving in Trinidad for the final leg of the tournament and Bassarath is confident that everything is in place to put on a good show.
Speaking about the newest facility in Diego Martin, Bassarath said it was great to bring cricket back to the communities and is urging fans to turn out in their numbers and support the home team.
“I visited there about a month ago and I was very impressed with the facility down there. It’s ideal for hosting first-class cricket, so we’re looking forward to the first match being played there and we know everything will be in place on Wednesday morning to get started,” said Bassarath.
“Nothing needs to be done at the scene. The venue is in perfect condition and has been built and (is) suitable for first-class cricket,” the TTCB president pointed out, adding, “The Red Force had a practice game there recently and they were happy with the facility and the team. really looking forward to playing on a community ground.
Pitch gets first class status
“Diego Martin is a community ground and we are very happy that Cricket West Indies has given first class status to the ground. We have three first-class seats and will continue to use them all as often as possible, but overall the players were happy. The pitch was good during the practice game and they are looking forward to Wednesday,” asserted Bassarath.
In terms of attendance, the TTCB chief expects people to come out in support, but is calling on everyone to act responsibly to ensure a safe environment for all. The TTCB recently held its T20 Festival at the National Cricket Center in Balmain, Couva, with Saturday’s final well attended.
He expects even more people to turn out for the first-class matches. “I can say that we expect people to come out to the games and we will have compliance officers at the venues to make sure protocols are followed in terms of sanitization and social distancing and wearing masks,” Bassarath noted.
“We have to continue to follow the protocols. It’s no longer a safe zone scenario, so people have to act responsibly. We know people have been hungry for live sport over the last two years, so we are looking for big attendances at the venues and I want to reassure the national community that everything will be in place to accommodate all safe,” he added.
“We are also appealing to everyone to adhere to the guidelines that will be issued at the venues so that we can have a safe environment for cricket,” concluded Bassarath.
