SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
A joint investment of $221,000 has been injected into the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Under-19 Inter-Zone Youth Series by title sponsors The Price Club and Tiger Tanks Trinidad Ltd.
Representatives from both companies presented TTCB president Azim Bassarath with their respective checks at the unveiling of the tournament at the National Cricket Center (NCC) in Couva on Wednesday.
The U19 competition features eight zones and bowl games next Wednesday across four venues.
East play North East at Knowles Street Recreation Ground, Curepe; North vs Tobago at the Diego Martin Sports Complex, Diego Martin; The battle of South-South-West at Wilson Road, Penal and Central goes against South-East at NCC. All games start at 9:30.
The second round matches begin on March 7, the third round on March 10, followed by both semi-finals on March 16 and 17 respectively and the title match on March 23. The teams have not yet been finalized as some areas are still holding trials.
This is the first youth tournament organized by the cricket board since the TT government eased its Covid19 restrictions on the domestic sport.
After two years without local competition, Bassarath hailed the return to the game, especially for youngsters, a “watershed moment”. It took on long-standing cricket sponsor The Price Club and welcomed on board, for a first collaboration with the TTCB, Tiger Tanks Trinidad Ltd.
Bassarath praised their timely investment towards the future of TT, and by extension, West Indies cricket.
“Their (The Price Club and Tiger Tanks) investment in national and youth development at this crucial moment for the sport in the post-pandemic era will not go unnoticed and will provide invaluable rewards for our cricketers.” ,” he said.
As the 2022 season ends with the U19 tournament, Bassarath confirmed that plans are underway for a shortened National League season, which has now been rebranded as the Premier League.
He said the TTCB is ready for a welcome return to cricket and is looking forward to organizing several tournaments, with the main focus on youth development.
“While we are delighted that the cricket grounds will once again provide a healthy and productive channel for our youth to realize their unlimited potential, many challenges lay ahead.
“The road will not be easy but rest assured that the TTCB has not shirked its responsibilities or sat down as the looming threat (covid19) to our beautiful game ravages the earth.
“Cricket fans could not wish for a better sign as we move into the top flight. TTCB believes that optimism is the main emotion we feel right now, but we are not oblivious that our innate qualities of hard work, resilience and perseverance will produce the relief we seek,” concluded Bassarath.
Also present were TTCB operations manager Dudnath Ramkessoon, other board members, Red Force coach David Furlonge, West Indies TT U19 World Cup representative Shiva Sankar, marketing administrator of The Price Club , Jason Abdool, Tiger Tanks regional manager, Dennis Latiff and several other employees at both facilities.
During Latiff’s speech, he expressed his delight at the partnership with the cricket board. However, he hopes that more emphasis, in all sports, can be placed on strengthening the mental capacities of TT athletes.
Latiff said, “Development is also not just a tournament. I would like to see increased development in the mental capacity of the players. Here we start from the youth. We suggest having the idea of victory, knowing where they are going and controlling their thoughts and minds.
“From this you will see development. You will see them train and play better. From this tour, I ask that we consider all of these. I think there is a lack of that, in Trinidad, for development.”
