Jack to sponsor cricket zone

FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner will sponsor the South East Zonal Cricket Council to the tune of $50,000 for the 2005 local cricket season. Warner, who also heads the regional organisation CONCACAF,  made the pledge during his feature address at the zone’s prize-giving ceremony on Saturday at the Tableland High School. “I am very impressed with this zone and the way it is run so I am offering $50,000 for them to do their business of promoting cricket for the 2005 season,” said warner. The top football administrator who was born in Rio Claro said he has an interest with the goings-on in the area and was happy to see the efforts made by chairman Azim Bassarath and the South East Zone executive officers.

Warner also called on the authorities to make the game more interesting by making radical changes. He questioned the role of the substitute in cricket. “A substitute can be used in football as a strategy to bring about a win. If a substitute in cricket can take a catch and field, then why the hell he cannot bat and bowl? These are some of the things that must be looked upon by the rulers of the game if they wish to make it more interesting for the fans,” Warner said. He also revealed that he was approached by the World Cup 2007 Inc Local Organising Committee in St Lucia to advise them on their World Cup bid.

“After they got their package they called to thank me for the input I made. Our local people never contacted me to seek my advice,” Warner said. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Ellis Lewis in his short address congratulated the zone for their effort to take the game forward in the South East area. “South East Zone is the best run zone in the country and I must say congratulations to all the members for their hard work and service to the development of the game,” he said. Meanwhile, veteran Mervyn Richard-son was named “Senior Cricketer of the Year” for the 2004 season and his son Richie Richardson was among the “Five Youth Cricketers of the Year.” “Youth Cricketer of the Year” was Rishi Bachan and the “Club of the Year” was Blended. Lutchmienarine Ramdhan copped the award for the “Administrator of the Year.”

SOUTH EAST ZONE HONOUR ROLL

Senior Cricketer of the Year: Mervyn Richardson.
Five Cricketers of the Year: Mervyn Richardson, Jason Harriot, Shiva Rajkumar, Dindial Bridgelal and Shameed Rahim.
Youth Cricketer of the Year: Rishi Bachan.
Five Youth Cricketers of the Year: Rishi Bachan, Even Lewis, Kevon Francois, Richie Richardson and Jason Mohammed.
Club of the Year: Blended Sports Club.
Administrator of the Year: Lutchmienarine Ramdhan.
Division One winners: Guayaguayare.
Runners-up: St Mary’s.
Third place: Yorkshire.
Division Two winners: Tableland.
Runners-up: Biche United.
Third place: United Barrackpore.
Sunday League winners: St Mary’s/Guayaguayare.
Mid-week winners: Moruga/Guayaguayare.