Thieves rob Aussies of cricket gear

ST GEORGE’S: The Australian cricket team has called for a thorough police investigation after being robbed of their cricketing gear at the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad. And Alloy Lequay, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) blames national air carrier BWIA for the mix-up.

According to the evergreen administrator, “the plane couldn’t hold all the baggage and, when their bags go through the holding bay, there’s where the equipment were lost.” Forty-two of 87 items were stolen as the team checked in on Monday for their flight to Grenada. It was the second time on the current tour that the Australian team had been robbed at the Trinidad airport — their gear had been burgled after last month’s second Test as well. Lequay added that the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) will make a claim for compensation for the lost items while he has written the National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee and Transport Minister Franklyn Khan for full reports on the matter.

“There’s been an issue at Trinidad airport for a number of seasons, where past touring sides have suffered from pilfering of cricket gear from team bags,” Steve Bernard, the Australian team manager, said. “We feel that because it’s a repeat — of a repeat of a repeat of a repeat — it’s vital the police are involved and it’s a thorough investigation. That would be my hope, but I’m not a decision-maker here.” Among the items stolen were bats, shirts, shoes, sunglasses, pads and gloves. Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel all lost their bats, with Bichel losing the willow which brought him spectacular success at the World Cup.

Australia are not the first team to suffer this fate in the West Indies — Indian and South African teams have also been robbed on earlier tours to the Caribbean. With the West Indies scheduled to host the 2007 World Cup, the authorities have plenty of work to do to ensure a trouble-free tournament.