Blind cricketers get $1million

At a media conference at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Warner advanced the first instalment of $250,000 to the association’s president Bhowanie Persad ahead of the Caribbean Championship carded for July.

And in response Persad said the generous sponsorship will assist the local players with miscellaneous expenses such as travelling.

According to Persad the Trinidad and Tobago cricketers will contest a five-team regional tournament in neighbouring Barbados lasting at least a week.

He said the blind cricketers have been hard in training at Skinner Park in San Fernando but will soon have to find an alternative venue as they will be dislocated by the upcoming Soca Fiesta.

He said at the regional championship, the local team will come up against Jamaica, Guyana, hosts Barbados and the Windward Islands.

However he pointed out that before the regional competition can take place, the Trinidad and Tobago team will take part in a Cross Country Cricket Festival in May, before the team is selected.

Persad revealed that the association will also be throwing an all-inclusive fete on the Treasure Queen on March 30 to raise funds. Tickets will be on sale at a cost of $200.

The briefing attracted a number of leading blind cricketers as well as members of the Joe Public Munroe Road cricket team, the CLICO Preysal and the Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

Deryck Murray, the Trinidad and Tobago’s Cricket Board president said he welcomed the sponsorship and observed that the gesture was critically important.

He said he never understood how blind cricketers played until he was among a high profile West Indies team was beaten by a team of blind cricketer a number of years ago.

Yesterday Warner, Special Advisor to the Football Federation was also presented with a gift by president of the Eastern Football Association Lennox Watson.

Watson said the plaque was a token of their (EFA) appreciation to the local football boss for the assistance given to them over the years.

Warner will again fund the association’s league competition this season.