Cricket fracas angers Omar Khan

Trinidad and Tobago team manager and Corporate Com-munications Manager at Power-Gen, Omar Khan has called on the Secondary Schools Cricket Council (SSCC) to investigate an incident involving the Princes Town Senior Comprehensive School team after the Intercol final against Barrackpore at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre on Monday night. Princes Town were defeated by Barrackpore by four wickets in a tense match. Batting first Princes Town scored 162 for nine wickets and Barrackpore recovered from a shaky 83 for six  to take their first Intercol title.

Khan speaking at the prize giving ceremony repeatedly called on the Princes Town team to come out of the dressing room but they refused. When he threatened to ask the SSCC to launch an inquiry as to what was happening a few players came out. Awards won by the Princes Town players went uncollected and this angered Khan. Speaking immediately after the incident he said: “This is utter foolishness and I am going to ask the committee to find out what is really the problem. I refuse to believe that they did not come out because they could not stand their loss,” he said.

“Losing is a part of sport and they would have to work harder at their game instead of behaving in this manner,” the engineer said. President of the Secondary Schools Cricket Council Forbes Persaud also commented on the issue. “Discipline is very important in sport as it is in life and we see this cricket league as an extension of the classroom. We are going to fully investigate the matter and find out what really happened. I was told that they are unhappy about certain things but at this time I am not really willing to reveal this,” Persad said
Secretary of the SSCC, former national player Surujdath Mahabir also had his say. “This really spoilt what was a great match and we at the Secondary School Cricket Coun-cil would not tolerate such behaviour.”

First vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC), Dudnath Ramkeesoon was also on hand to witness the match said. “What a beautiful night of cricket spoilt by this incident. I am not fully aware what transpired but I am not happy at all. When you lose you have to graciously accede and try to do better next time. You must not do anything that would hamper the celebrations of the winning team,” Ramkeesoon said. It is alleged that the Princes Town players also broke out into a fight in the dressing room and this ugly scene was visible to patrons leaving at the back of the pavilion. Also at the end of the match a supporter waving a Princes Town flag ran into a group of  Barrackpore fans and allegedly slapped one of them using the flag as a weapon.