ICC gives Trinidad venues passing grade for U19 Cricket World Cup

INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) representative Benjamin Leaver has given cricket venues in TT a passing grade as final preparations are continuing to host the 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup from January 14-February 5.

Multiple venues will be used in Trinidad during the tournament for training and matches including Queen’s Park Oval, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Diego Martin Sporting Complex, National Cricket Centre and the Sir Frank Worrell Ground at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

A total of 16 teams will play 64 matches in the tournament. Matches will also be played in Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and St Kitts and Nevis. West Indies will not play any matches in Trinidad.

Tournament director Fawwaz Baksh said, “After a number of venue inspections and commitment from the Government to (provide) the necessary services and resources we need we are happy to announce TT as an official host country for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.”

Baksh was speaking at a media conference at the Queen’s Park Oval, on Thursday.

Among those in attendance were Leaver, Sport Company of TT chairman Douglas Camacho, president of the TT Cricket Board Azim Bassarath, president of Queen’s Park Cricket Club Dr Nigel Camacho and Dudnath Ramkissoon, the first West Indies Under-19 captain. Ramkissoon, who captained the team in 1970, led a team including future West Indies stalwart Larry Gomes.

Leaver was satisfied with the facilities in Trinidad, saying, “For us, it is (about) providing world-class facilities and we have seen that in every single location we have visited during our time here.”

Leaver said many international cricketers began at the Under-19 level including India’s Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and West Indian Jayden Seales.

Seales was a member of the West Indies Under-19 team just two years ago and is already part of the West Indies Test team.

Leaver expects the Caribbean to host a successful one of a kind tournament.

“One thing that I am excited about having worked on Under-19 events since 2016 is to see and allow the players to experience a Caribbean feel and I think that goes without saying that cricket in the Caribbean is unique and it is exciting…these players may continue to play for a number of years, but this may be the pinnacle for them.”

Douglas, reading a statement from the Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe, said, “While we would have invested approximately US $1.8 million the return is much greater as we anticipate that this will bring an estimated (US) $10 million back into our economy.”

On hosting an event of this magnitude Cudjoe said, “On behalf of the Government of TT we are incredibly excited to host an ICC global event.”

Douglas said TT has had the experience of hosting a major cricket event during the covid19 pandemic as the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League was held without any hiccups.

Baksh said all the officials and coaching staff members must be vaccinated for covid19.

“We have a requirement at Cricket West Indies that everyone who is coming to this tournament be 100 per cent vaccinated.”

Baksh said that rule will not apply to the players because some of them will be Under-18 and the vaccine is still unavailable in some countries for children.