The Price Club, Tiger Tanks invest $221k into U19 Inter-zone cricket

A joint investment of $221,000 has been injected into the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) Under-19 Inter-Zone Youth Series by main sponsors The Price Club and Tiger Tanks Trinidad Ltd.

Representatives from both companies presented TTCB president Azim Bassarath with their respective cheques at the tournament’s unveiling at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva on Wednesday.

The U19 competition features eight zones and bowls off next Wednesday at four venues.

East play North East at Knowles Street Recreation Ground, Curepe; North face Tobago at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Diego Martin; South battle South West at Wilson Road, Penal and Central goes up against South East at NCC. All games start at 9.30am.

Second round matches begin on March 7, round three on March 10, followed by both semi-finals on March 16 and 17 respectively and the title match on March 23. Teams are yet to be finalised since several zones are still conducting trials.

This is the first youth tournament hosted by the cricket board since the TT government relaxed its covid19 restrictions on domestic sport.

After two years without local competitions, Bassarath hailed the return to play, particularly for the youngsters, a “watershed moment.” He acknowledged long-standing cricket sponsor The Price Club and welcomed aboard, for a first-time collaboration with the TTCB, Tiger Tanks Trinidad Ltd.

Bassarath showered praise on their timely investment towards the future of TT, and by extension, West Indies cricket.

“Their (The Price Club and Tiger Tanks) investment in national and youth development at this important juncture for sport in the post-pandemic era will not go unnoticed and provide invaluable rewards for our cricketers,” he said.

While the 2022 season bowls off with the U19 tourney, Bassarath confirmed that plans are afoot for a shortened National League season which is now rebranded as the Premier League.

He said the TTCB is ready for a welcome return to cricket and looks forward to hosting a several tournaments, with primary focus on youth development.

“While we are pleased that the crickets grounds will once again provide a healthy and productive channel for our young people to realise their unrestrained potential, many challenges lay ahead.

“The road will not be easy but rest assured that the TTCB has not been shirking its responsibilities or lying low while the imminent threat (covid19) to our beautiful game ravages the land.

“Cricket fans could not have wanted a better sign as we move into top gear. The TTCB believes that optimism is the key emotion we feel right now but are not unmindful that our innate qualities of hard work, resilience and perseverance will produce the relief that we seek,” Bassarath closed.

Also in attendance were TTCB operations manager Dudnath Ramkessoon, other board members, Red Force coach David Furlonge, TT’s West Indies U19 World Cup representative Shiva Sankar, The Price Club marketing administrator Jason Abdool, Tiger Tanks’ regional manager Dennis Latiff and several other staffers at both institutions.

During Latiff’s address, he expressed pleasure partnering with the cricket board. He however, hopes more emphasis, in all sport, can be placed on strengthening the mental capacity of TT’s athletes.

Latiff said, “Development is also not only a tournament. I would like to see development grown into the mental capacity of players. That’s where we start from youth. We suggest to get that idea of winning, knowing where they’re going and controlling their thoughts and minds.

“From that, you will see development. You will see them training and playing better. From this tournament, I am asking that we look into all of this. I think there is a shortage of that, in Trinidad, for development.”