SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath is leading the charge to help develop a women’s Test team in the West Indies.
During the awards ceremony of the West Indies U19 Women’s Rising Stars Championship (CWI) on Wednesday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Bassarath said the formation of a regional women’s Test team would be discussed at the meeting CWI executive in August.
Currently, WI women only participate in 50-over and T20 matches.
He said the TTCB had set aside funds to host two three-day matches for TT women’s cricket next month. Bassarath called on other regional territories to follow suit as they seek to enter the longest and most challenging version of the sport of cricket.
“We want every other Caribbean territory in the Caribbean to follow us. We should not allow girls to play only 50 overs and T20 cricket. If South Africa can play Test cricket, WI can play Test cricket.
“We need to put these moves in place now to ensure we prepare our girls for the longer version of the game and it needs to start now.
“There will be a CWI executive meeting on the first weekend of August and I will bring this up as a very important topic on the agenda so that those territorial boards that cannot fund the games, I will ask CWI to make sure these games are funded,” he said.
Bassarath was pleased with the “smooth” execution of this year’s competition and congratulated the USA on their surprise victory in their debut.
He praised TT Women’s Cricket Association (TTWCA) vice-president Ann Brown-John and her executive for organizing a “very high standard” tournament, but also for playing integral roles in getting the competition to the level it is. today.
Bassarath also acknowledged the CWI for their support of the women’s game.
“About 13 or 14 years ago, a member of the TTCB along with Brown-John, this discussion started about an U19 girls tournament. This U19 tournament was born out of that discussion, of course, with the women’s association.
“TT has hosted every U19 girls regional tournament in Trinidad and this is due to the foresight and vision of the TTWCA led by Anne Browne John.
“When CWI saw what was happening and they observed the quality that the tournament was delivering, after about four or five years, CWI got involved and they started raising some small funds to organize this tournament.
“I would like to congratulate the CWI for seeing the vision of John and her team in organizing and hosting a tournament of this nature,” he added.
On USA’s surprise win, Bassarath congratulated the newly crowned champions and called their victory “a red-letter day for USA cricket”. He said the result should open new doors for the development of the sport in the US.
Bassarath continued, “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Team USA would have won this tournament today. I know this will be a big thing in the US.
“I’m extremely happy that you’re going to get the trophy back because cricket is needed in the US and this could be the leap needed for cricket to make that leap in the US.”
Also in attendance were Brown-John, West Indies U19 Women’s head coach Steve Liburd and SportTT head of sports development Justin Latapy-George.
Librud confirmed that after the U19 tournament, along with the already concluded Women’s Super50 Cup and next month’s Caribbean Women’s Premier League, a WI squad will be selected for the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 competition in South Africa from 5 to on January 30, 2023.
CWI Women U19 Rising Stars T20 Honor Roll
First Round – Niveena Ramnauth (Guyana), Shalini Samaroo (TT), Isani Vaghela (USA)
Second round – Raeleanna Grimmond (Guyana), Djenaba Joseph (TT), Jannellia Glasgow (Windwards)
Third round – Kate Wilmot (Jamaica), Jannellia Glasgow (Windwards)
Fourth round – Snigdha Paul (USA)
Round five – Samara Ramnauth (TT), Trishan Holder (Barbados)
Sixth round – Amelia Khan (TT), Bhumika Bhadriraju (USA)
Individual Awards
Player of the match (final) – Anika Kolan (USA)
Most Runs – Djenaba Joseph (TT)
Most wickets – Naveena Ramnauth (Guyana/ Shalini Samaroo/TT)
Goalkeeper with most dismissals – Shunelle Sawh
Tournament MVP Shalini Samaroo 121 runs/ nine wickets
Match referees – Stephanie Power and Anthony Creed
Match Judges – Carolyn Browne, Jacqueline Williams, Caseev Sandy, Maria Abbot, Ryan Willoughby, Candace La Borde
