Rampersad defends Cricket Board

Rampersad also debunked the recent statements made by former West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray that Trinidad and Tobago cricket is on the decline.

He also came out in support of veteran cricket administrator Alloy Lequay who has been under attack by "Friends of Cricket" a new group which is preparing to challenge for positions when the TTCB hold executive elections in October.

Murray last week declared his intention to bid for the post of president where he is likely to face Dudnath Ramkessoon, the current chairman of the national senior selectors and first vice-president of the Cricket Board.

It is understood that current Cricket Board president Ellis Lewis will not stand for re-election.

Yesterday Rampersad said that he is in no doubt that the incumbents will hold sway when the national elections are held based on the success of Trinidad and Tobago cricketers in regional competitions.

"We have been enjoying consistent success across the board with our teams in regional competition so it is dishonest to say that the game is on the decline," Rampersad said.

Since last October, Trinidad and Tobago cricketers have won the senior President’s Trophy limited overs competition; the recent regional TCL Under-19 Cricket Challenge, both league and one-day championships; the CLICO Under-15 Tournament; and yesterday the local women swept the West Indies Championships (Limited overs and league contests).

Rampersad said the only blemish on the record was the fact that Trinidad and Tobago have not won the senior four-day competition since 1985 under the leadership of Rangy Nanan.

"You must understand with the senior team we are dealing with a situation at a higher level, not only related to sports but in society.

"And you can see what the situation is society is now like. It is a difficult challenge for which the Cricket Board cannot be blamed," Rampersad said.

The president of top club Ceramic Merry Boys of Diego Martin said the outstanding success of the teams in regional competition clearly shows that the Cricket Board’s development programmes are working.

He also rejected claims made by Dr Allen Sammy of the "Friends of Cricket" who described as "rubbish" the recent proclamation by the officials of the Australian Institute of Sports that cricket in Trinidad and Tobago is the best organised sport in the region.

"The Australians are reputed to be among the best in the world in this kind of survey. Their assessment cannot be dismissed like this. Even so, administrators of the Cricket Board have received numerous awards at the local level," said Rampersad.

He said before he joined the Cricket Board he was a vocal critic of their operations but since then has been bowled over by their single-minded determination to make the sport the best under former president now Chief Executive Officer Alloy Lequay.

"Mr Lequay has been able to build a state of the art facility at Balmain, the National Cricket Centre comprising the Cricket Board office and the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre without borrowing a cent. That’s a major achievement," Ram-persad said.

"He is also the most honest person I have met who lives very simply, qualities I admire very much. Mr Lequay has given his life for Trinidad and Tobago serving in any way he can," said Rampersad.