Return of interzone cricket a plus

Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board executive member Azim Bassarath believes that with the re-introduction of the senior interzone cricket tournament, the game will only move forward. Bassarath said “Firstly, if  I have to comment on our national team I would say that the guys are not playing enough cricket in the regional tournament. “The regional series is too short and the players are not given enough time to showcase their talent. “We have very good players in this country and we can win the championship.” Trinidad and Tobago have not won the regional first class senior cricket championship for the past 19 years. Last time Trinidad and Tobago won the title was way back in 1985 under the leadership of all-rounder Rangy Nanan.

The 47-year-old Bassarath who is also chairman of the South East Zone added: “Long ago we produced better prepared cricketers for regional tournaments because they were all fighting for places on the team during the interzone matches. “The rivalry was fierce and this was very healthy for the game. We at the TTCB are looking to re-introduce the interzone tournament during the period November to December with the hope that the players would be able to get in top shape in time for the regional first class championships which begin in January.” Currently there is a senior interzone tournament called the Courts Interzone Series, but all National League and Super League players are debarred from playing. The series is contested among players participating in zonal cricket.

According to Bassarath, speaking after a meeting of the TTCB at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva, “this will be no more, the practice of not having National League and Super League players in the tournament will not longer continue. “A player can be chosen for any zone once he lives within the confines of that zone. He could be playing National League or Minor League, once he is good enough he would be on the interzone team. “In the past this competition unearthed players the like of David Mohammed, Rangy Nanan, Theo Cuffy, Raffick Jumadeen and Kenrick Bainey. “These guys served notice to the national selectors with good performances in the interzone tournament and went on to do very well for the country.” Bassarath, a Road Officer II attached to the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation said  the interzone series will bring back the crowds to the game as the top local players will be featured in matches.