Dudnath, Deryck draw battle lines

It is widely expected that the incumbent Ellis Lewis will not stand for re-election paving the way for Ramkessoon to put his name on the ballot for the October 9 elections for the executive position.

A source close to the Cricket Board said yesterday that Ramkessoon’s candidature has not yet been discussed at the executive level.

However it is expected to occupy a prominent place on the agenda when the Cricket Board meets on Thursday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain.

"At that meeting the executive will be informed about the incumbents who will stay in the race and those who are desirous of bowing out so a slate could be drawn up," said the source who requested anonymity.

Ramkessoon is widely admired for his work behind the scenes as chairman of the national senior selection panel and first vice-president of the Cricket Board.

He is a former captain of a successful Presentation College, Chaguanas school team in the 1970s and has captained a West Indies Youth side to England. More importantly for the Cricket Board he has had valuable experience working closely with former president Alloy Lequay, now chief executive officer who has over the years transformed the organisation into the finest in the region.

"This experience Ramkessoon has will serve him in good stead when he is nominated for the presidency since he has a proven track record of commitment and hard work for the game. He is also widely admired and respected," said the source.

Ramkessoon will face a challenge from ex-West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray who on Wednesday threw his hat in the ring again calling for a radical change in the administration of the sport in Trinidad and Tobago.

Murray was soundly defeated in his previous run for the presidency by Lewis but thinks he has a better chance this time around, boasting of his support from Tobago and the Secondary Schools Cricket Association.

However the momentum is widely expected to be with the current administration who are currently riding a crest of popularity and recognition for their development programmes and their modern facilities which have won praise from knowledgeable observers.

The senior Trinidad and Tobago team are the current holders of the President’s Cup regional limited overs championship; the Under-19s recently returned with a double-crown campaign in the TCL sponsored Challenge in St Vincent and the Grenadines; and the Under-15s captured the the West Indies Championship earlier this year here at home.

It is an unprecedented list of achievements unheard of in the entire Caribbean which has forced Lequay to recently remark that the West Indies Cricket Board can learn a few things from their local counterparts.

Lequay once again is expected to chart the course of the election campaign for the incumbent team giving Ramkeesoon the edge in the fight with Murray.

The new administration will be installed just over a year before Trinidad and Tobago hosts matches in the 2007 World Cup.