SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is set to resume domestic cricket as early as February after receiving the all-clear from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports and Community Development.
At the Alloy Lequay Administration Center in Couva on Thursday, TTCB president Azim Bassarath outlined a detailed calendar of events for the 2022 season; all these remain dependent only on the lifting of restrictions by the relevant authorities.
However, Bassarath made it clear all players, officials, staff and members of the club must be vaccinated to participate in any TTCB sanctioned tournament.
Since the pandemic hit in mid-March 2020, all domestic cricket came to a halt to curb the spread of Covid19.
Twenty-two months later, and with recent statements by the Minister of Sports and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe, guaranteeing a safe return to the sport, cricket, like other sports, is eagerly awaiting a long-awaited comeback.
Bassarath said that while the pandemic may have halted the sport’s activity on the field, the TTCB has not taken its eye off the ball, positioning itself to return to the playing field whenever restrictions are lifted.
He asserted that the executive meets regularly, virtually, to make ongoing assessments, formulate plans, keep in touch with key stakeholders and put pressure on the Ministry of Health for a possible restart.
The first tentative tournament, Bassarath said, will be a T10 in February, followed by an inter-zonal U-19 (February 16-23) and U-23 (February 18-25) tournament.
He continued, “TTCB has approached the corporate TT for their continued support in successfully undertaking several tournaments for which a calendar has already been drawn up.
“The following age groups will be included in a four-team competition for which sponsorship has already been identified. They are U23 (2nd to 9th March), U19 (8th to 27th April), U16 (7th to 21st May) and inter-zone youth tournaments split from February to June.
“Each of these races will be in line for selection in the North/South match.
“We are also in discussions with the Barbados Cricket Association and the Guyana Cricket Board about hosting an under-13 tournament in Guyana in August.”
Bassarath was also pleased to announce a possible return to the National League; The best TT competition.
The National League will also take its place as the top club competition with action in Premiership Division I and II North and South scheduled to begin on March 13.
“TTCB intends to have four teams selected from the National League 50 over competition to play in a tournament from which the representative team will be selected to travel to Tobago to field a Tobago XI in a series of matches,” he said.
Bassarath also listed some of the board’s new initiatives for the 2022 season.
“Programs are starting pending approval. It has been agreed that the TTCB will extend its support to include differently-abled cricketers and also women, who for the first time will be included in a separate windball competition for which the zones have been mandated to encourage participation.
“All TTCB zones have been mandated to field an U18 team in their senior division competitions, which will provide more opportunities for young cricketers to develop further on the national stage,” he said.
The local cricket fraternity is now awaiting the health ministry’s decision to resume the sport. On Wednesday, Cudjoe said her ministry presented a plan to the Ministry of Health to bring back sports in stages.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the two ministries “will work together”. Bassarath said the TTCB will adhere to any guidelines laid down. However, he urged players and officials to heed the call to get vaccinated.
“Nothing can happen unless the restrictions on team sports are lifted. I am now appealing to all cricketers who want to return to the playing field to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“If this does not happen, then the restrictions will continue and we will not be able to resume our cricket.
“We are waiting to see what the Minister of Health approves, advises and what should be implemented. We will stick to anything that says health min so that our cricket can be played.
“For every National League match, there will be a match referee on site to ensure proper protocols are implemented and that we adhere to the guidelines from the sports and health ministries,” he said.
