Bassarath appeals for sponsors

NEWLY re-elected president of the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath is appealing for past and new sponsors to get on board and save TT cricket. Bassarath, who beat challenger Dinanath Ramnarine for the top cricket post on Wednesday, made the appeal after winning his fourth term in office.

Speaking at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, the local cricket boss said, "Corporate sponsors and the business community, who are friends of the game, must return and make their contributions to national development through the investment in our youth cricketers. Each one of us must act responsibly and provide the testimony that is required for the success of the campaign to rescue this sport. It has suffered greatly as a victim of collateral damage of the economic decline for the past few years."

Bassarath said gaining sponsorship has been challenging and allegations of misuse of funds over the last six months may have tarnished the board.

Reports on a PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) audit as well as one from former sponsor National Gas Company did not paint the TTCB in a favourable light, with misallocation of sponsorship funds by the TTCB garnering national attention.

The NGC audit on the TTCB showed $2,983,000 of its sponsorship was not spent according to stipulation.

Asked whether these allegations was a blow to the board recently, Bassarath said, "I am not sure whether it (funding) was affected, but definitely it was a challenge to approach sponsors with all those allegations hanging over our head."

Bassarath described the allegations as damaging by some members of the board and also took a shot at the media.

He said, "Of course with those types of mischief and those types of allegations being made against any organisation it (sponsorship) will be affected. I said before, it was mischief.

"We are very disappointed with (certain) members of the board and of course with even certain parts of the media where on a daily basis you will see the same thing appearing day after day and even on talk shows you will see people saying the same thing and damaging the sport and damaging the cricket board. What they are doing technically is that they are destroying the young people of TT."

Ramnarine, who was defeated 31-13 for the presidency, said it was a sad day for cricket and does not believe sponsors would be keen to come on board.

"The fact of the matter is, what sponsor is going to sit down with Mr Bassarath and look him in the eye and say, 'We are giving you ten dollars and we expect that the money will be spent in accordance with the agreement.' Not one and that is the sad state of TT cricket."

TTCB Executive

President – Azim Bassarath

First vice-president – Arjoon Ramlal

Second vice-president – Kerwin John

Third vice-president – Parasram Singh

General secretary – Surujdath Mahabir

Treasurer – Sukesh Maniam