Murray says he stands alone

Former West Indies cricketer Deryck Murray said his bid to become president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) does not mean that he intends to overthrow the current executive.

This was disclosed by the former Test wicketkeeper at a press conference yesterday at Guardian Life’s Corporate Centre, Westmoorings yesterday. At the end of October the post of president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) will become vacant when Alloy Lequay,  who has served national cricket for 47 years, steps down. On October 25 the TTCB will host their annual general meeting at Couva, where 43 members will vote for a new president. The TTCB executive led by Lequay is supporting first president Ellis Lewis for the post, continuing a tradition of successorship at the TTCB. Murray however will challenge him for the position and told the media yesterday that he does not belong to any slate and is going up all on his own. He denied he was part of a group with a former challenger to the post, Anthony Harford. “I am all on my own. I have received encouragement from board members to have a go and hence I am offering myself for the post of president. I think that when Mr Lequay goes a new era  has to begin and I think that with my broad international experience, I have something to offer,” said Murray yesterday.

Murray was high in praise for Lequay whom he spoke to just before the conference. “Firstly I must congratulate Mr Lequay for the magnificent job he has done in cricket administration in this country and I hope that together with the other members we can honour him in some tangible way in the future,” said Murray. He added that his relationship with Lequay is still very cordial and that he wants people to know that he is going to work with the current executive to promote the game and develop the youngsters. “I am going to have a serious look at development and start from the primary and secondary schools. This is where the success will come from. At the present time the West Indies team and the Trinidad and Tobago team are not performing at their best and I think that I can make a positive contribution,” Murray said. His vision for development includes the strengthening of club and zone structures, with a special emphasis on the East-West corridor and the South-West peninsular. He also intends to take a closer look at Tobago’s cricket and take specific steps to provide the Tobago Cricket Association with the resources they need.