UWI experts to assist in Oval investigation

In a statement issued by TTCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Suruj Ragoonath yesterday, both the TTCB and QPCC regret the outcome and have engaged a team of top experts from the University of the West Indies (UWI) to investigate the matter.

A report from UWI is expected to be handed in by Thursday, following which the hosts will provide the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) with a full report.

The WICB is then expected to submit a report to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The sodden outfield was of grave concern as the cancellation deprived all stakeholders of an opportunity to witness Test match action in Trinidad for the first time since 2014.

The UWI experts have already begun their investigation as Queen’s Park is making every effort to ensure that this situation will not be repeated as more cricket is being played during the wet season.

This though, was the first time in Queens Park’s 125-year history that a Test match was being staged this late in the year at the Oval.

This Test was the 60th being hosted here, the most by any venue in the Caribbean.

Leading up to the match, Queen’s Park did its usual preparation for hosting an international match having just hosted one leg of the Caribbean Premier League in July where, in spite of heavy rain, matches were all played before packed audiences.

For the past two years, QPCC has been hosting matches in the Regional Four Day Tournament during the months of November and December without experiencing any issues with ground saturation despite high volumes of rainfall. All efforts are therefore being made to ensure that future matches at the Oval would not be affected.