Sports Editor hits cricket snipers for six

Outspoken Sports Editor of Newsday, Zaid Mohammed, has made a strong defence in support of Alloy Lequay, the man people love to hate in Trinidad and Tobago cricket. Mohammed, who has more than two decades experience in journalism said yesterday that criticism of Lequay, which has increased within the past weeks,  is wholly unfounded and unjustified. “The fortunes of the national cricketers have more to do with their performance on the field than Mr Lequay’s position as head of the Cricket Board of Control,” Mohammed said. Earlier this week former Sports Minister Manohar Ramsaran made a call for Lequay’s head because  the national team had not won a regional senior title since 1985. The long-serving administrator has already made his intentions clear, announcing that he would be stepping down as president of the TTCB at their annual general meeting on October 29. Lequay however will remain as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board. Lequay said yesterday he did not want to get into any verbal battle with Ramsaran but indicated the TTCB is governed by a constitution and it is the right of the affiliated clubs to remove him if they are unhappy with his leadership.

Admitting that TT has a poor record in the regional tournament since 1986, Mohammed said Lequay has fought hard and long for the development of the local players creating the right environment and opportunities for them to excel. “He has single-handedly built a magnificent facility at Couva, one of a kind in the Caribbean and has solicited sponsorship over the years running into millions of dollars for development programmes across the broad spectrum of the game,” he said. Mohammed said Lequay has  done more than his part but it has been the national cricketers who have let the country down by not performing to expectation. A problem that needs to be addressed not only by the Board but by parents, teachers and the clubs. Mohammed, who covered cricket extensively for the Caribbean Media Corporation, formerly CANA, said he was shocked at the venom of the recent attacks on Lequay and is not surprised that the cricket stalwart is seeking redress in the courts of law. “I am yet to see any meaningful suggestions regarding the restoration of our cricket fortunes but a campaign of misinformation, snide remarks and attacks on Lequay’s character. The record of his contribution is outstanding, something you can’t say about the cricket snipers,” said Mohammed.