Twenty20 clash for Haitian victims

This news was revealed yesterday in a quickly-arranged press conference, at the Oval’s BpTT (British Petroleum Trinidad and Tobago) Hospitality Suite.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and president of WIPA, Dinanath Ramnarine, said, “as a fellow member of Caricom, we share with Haiti common aspirations for the development of our region.

“A wounded and weakened member of this fraternity cannot be allowed to face its tribulations by itself,” he continued. “In its hour of need and cry for help, we have no alternative but to harness our efforts and collectively assist Haiti.”

Ramnarine, the former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies leg-spinner, admitted that the plans for the match took place yesterday morning. “You could well appreciate the challenges we have been facing in organising this game in the middle of the regional tournament and in securing sponsorship and dealing with the logistics,” he said.

The WIPA boss thanked Robert Riley, chairman and CEO of BPTT, for agreeing immediately to chair the organising committee.

He said the Queen’s Park Oval readily made available the ground for the match. “Sponsors like Bmobile, Caribbean Airlines, Hyatt Hotel, Toyota Trinidad and Tobago (and) First Citizens.... the public, if they wish to make a contribution, can go to any First Citizens branch and contribute to the First Citizens Haiti Relief Fund account number 1816404,” Ramnarine said.

“We must also thank the Guyana Cricket Board for unhesitatingly accommodating our request to have the Guyana team participate in the event, and the players themselves who have had to make personal adjustments, given the fact that they are in the midst of the regional tournament.

“Last, by no means least, the TTCB, for the cooperation and action shown in ensuring that all arrangements were made with WIPA to bring about this game.

Also addressing the gathering was recently-elected TTCB president Azim Bassarath.

“I would like to publicly thank the players and, in particular, the Guyana Cricket Board, for so readily agreeing to participate, not only after one telephone call, but during that very call,” he said. “How caring and how committed they and Trinidad and Tobago players have been for making themselves available for the match.

“This humane and quick response to our request was reflected in a similar way by other participants which, in a way, epitomises that generally sharing and caring nature of our peoples,” he said.

The other dignitaries in attendance were Robert Riley; Bruce Aanensen, president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC); Lisa Abraham, CEO of QPCC; Larry Romany, Chief Operations Officer of WIPA; and Laura Asbjornsen, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Caribbean Airlines. Trinidad and Tobago will face Guyana today in the second round of the West Indies Four-Day First Class Tournament, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.

Teams -

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Daren Ganga (captain), Sherwin Ganga, Amit Jaggernauth, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Rayad Emrit, Justin Guillen, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul; Colin Borde (manager), Kelvin Williams (coach), Ronald Rogers (trainer).

GUYANA: Sewnarine Chattergoon (captain), Travis Dowlin, Assad Fudadin, Ravendra Chandrika, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Vishal Singh, Esaun Crandon, Veerasammy Permaul, Derwin Christian, Davendra Bishoo, Brendon Bess, Trevor Benn; Carl Moore (manager), Ravindra Seeram (coach).