Top cricket coach endorses Lewis

NATIONAL coaching director Baldath Mahabir came out to bat for Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) presidential candidate Ellis Lewis yesterday, saying he is deeply committed to the future development of the game. Mahabir yesterday described Lewis as “a behind the scenes man who works his hat off in the interest of the sport.” “Ellis is a very committed person when it comes to cricket in this country and has worked many tireless hours in formulating policies for the efficient running of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB),” said Mahabir. Lewis is being challenged by former Test wicketkeeper Deryck Murray for the top post when the Board’s 47th stage their annual general meeting at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), BalmainVillage on Saturday.

“As president Ellis will bring to the board great management expertise. He is an excellent planner and policy maker and is something of a Winston Dookeran as far as his work is concerned,” said Mahabir. Dookeran, the Member of Parliament for St Augustine, is a highly respected United National Congress (UNC) policy maker and strategist. “Ellis is a very understanding leader and knows exactly where the board wants to take cricket in this country. He has been part of the plan for very long and knows what we have to do,” he said. Mahabir predicted that Lewis will be successful once the executive of the board is intact. “Ellis will be as strong as his executive and once the current crop remains, I think he will get the job done and very good at that,” he said. Mahabir who will be contesting the second-vice president post will come up against the long serving Central Zone administrator Lalman Kowlessar. The TTCB executive member however, is strongly tipped to win the contest due to his exceptional work as director of the national coaching programmes.