Major shake-up in umpires body

Former Schools Supervisor II in the Ministry of Education Clarence Shaffrali is now head of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Umpires Council (TTCUC). Shaffrali replaces Harry Mahabal who led the organisation for the past four years.

Mahabal, a recent recipient of a Chaconia Medal (Silver) in the the Independence Day National Awards was voted out together with his entire executive. The annual general elections of the TTCUC was held at Presentation College, Chaguanas, on Sunday morning. Long serving cricket administrator Lalman Kowlessar is the new vice-president. He replaces Sadick Mohammed, while Camal Basdeo was replaced as secretary by Kasso Dowlath. Treasurer Shair Ali also made way for Harold Ramjattan. Shaffrali said after the elections that the new executive is about reviving umpiring training locally. “We have already appointed a committee to look into the development of the umpire and they will report back to us soon on the matter,” he said. “Umpiring must have a new dimension in this country and we are going to move in that direction. We are now going to use slides and video tapes to help in the preparation of the umpire so that we put out a better product for the benefit of cricket in Trinidad and Tobago,” Shaffrali said. Shaffrali, who has been a cricket administrator for the past 50 years added: ”We are not going to discriminate against anyone. When we form other committees we will be willing to include those that have been voted out of the executive. They must however be good at what they are doing,” he said. The TTCUC will meet next month to put the appointments committee in place for the new season.

EXECUTIVE FOR THE 2003-2004 TERM
President: Clarence Shaffrali
Vice-president: Lalman Kowlessar.
Secretary: Kasso Dowlath.
Asst Sec: Alfred Daniel and Farouk Hosein.
Treasurer: Harold Ramjattan.
Reps to WICUA: Sadick Mohammed, Clarence Shaffrali.
Rep to TTCB: Clarence Shaffrali, Kasso Dowlath.