TTCB to host WI club championship

TRINIDAD and Tobago Cricket Board plans to host a West Indies Club Championship in 2005. The announcement was made by TTCB’s president Ellis Lewis during the media luncheon hosted at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre, Balmain, Couva, yesterday. Lewis said, “executive members of the Board recognise that the West Indies Cricket Board also wants to organise such a series but we had planned this some time ago and we want to have the jump on the West Indies Board on this one.” But Lewis was unable to provide specific details of the competition and when it will be played. He intimated, however,  it should be held in March next year. He also disclosed that the traditional “Big Four” countries of West Indies cricket will be involved in the inaugural edition.

Lewis said: “The competition will involve the champion teams from four countries, the traditional teams Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. It will be a limited-overs competition and will be held sometime in March next year.” Asked to give specific details about the type of limited-overs competition, Lewis was unsure but said that “the details are still to be worked out.” It is not certain whether it will be a 30-overs-a-side, 40-overs-a-side or 50-overs-a-side competition. However, he did indicate that the competition will be a day-night format with the final carded for Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre. And that the overall cost will be about TT$400,000. To cover the cost, Lewis stressed that they are hoping to get the support of the Government and other companies. This is Lewis’ first term as president of the local board and he took the opportunity to thank all the media houses for the work they did in promoting cricket during the year.

The board’s 2005 local cricket season bowls off on Sunday, January 9 with First Round matches of the Carib Sunday League. The CSL involves teams from the National Cricket League Division One (8) and Division Two teams (8). As it stands, the local 2005 season will coincide with the WICB regional First Class fixtures because Trinidad and Tobago is scheduled to play Guyana in the first round match of the Carib Beer Series at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain from January 7 to 10. Most of the top clubs will be deprived of their leading stars who would either be on national duties with the TT team or with the West Indies team in Australia for the VB Series which also involves Pakistan and host the nation. The board also has plans to improve on the way they promote and administer the sport of cricket locally.

And in this respect they will hold a “Strategic-Business Seminar” on February 5 at the Administrative Centre, Balmain. Lewis stressed that: “the business of the Cricket Board deals with planning. No organisation that has any self-esteem or self-worth cannot move ahead without doing proper planning. “And like all business organisation, we will have this strategic-planning seminar to review our activities and plan ahead.” The Carib National League first round matches start on February 12 and 13 while the Carib Shield (30-overs-a-side) first round is carded for Tuesday (Feb15) and Wednesday (Feb16). The Noel Guillen Memorial Under 21 round one is scheduled for January 22 while the British Gas Under 15 starts on January 26. The Carib Shield final (day-night) is billed for Tuesday, March 29 at Guaracara Park while Carib Sunday League final is slated for April 16 at the same venue.