Bassarath batting on good wicket

Trinidad Guardian
Published: 11 Nov 2009

The success of the national team during the Airtel IPL T20 cricket series in India threatened to overshadow a development of major sporting significance here in T&T.

And it was without much fanfare that a new group of administrators, the Movement for Change, took charge of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB), stumping the Deryck Murray-led Friends of Cricket, which had been in office for four years. A bitter, bruising campaign left both sides snapping at each other in the quest for power, right up to the October 31 elections. In the end, the Azim Bassarath group, which had been calling for greater transparency and accountability, took over the reins, much to the delight of those who were pushing for a changing of the guards.

Mr Bassarath, a simple individual with a track record of success in the south-east zone where he cut his teeth in cricket administration, must be congratulated on his rise from relative obscurity into national focus, where he has already begun to establish himself and show that he will be no pushover in his role as president. There were several contentious issues throughout the campaign which had the potential to erupt into calamity and divide the administration of the game. Thankfully, Mr Bassarath has recognised this and has called an end to all feuds, offering an olive branch to his opponents. It is a sound, sensible position since there can be no doubt that despite his obvious allegiance to those who supported him throughout the campaign, Mr Bassarath knows there are those who opposed him who still have the best interest of the game at heart and can make a valuable contribution to his administration.

A perfect example must be Mr Murray. A career diplomat who has done yeoman service for West Indies and T&T cricket over the years, Mr Murray must surely have a lot to contribute to the game. He was the T&TCB’s representative on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and while some of the positions he took there were criticised by the Bassarath group, it must not be that his tremendous experience and diplomacy are allowed to suffocate. Indeed, one can say the same for the current chief executive officer, Forbes Persaud, who was quite vocal in his support of the Murray faction. It is understood that Mr Persaud has another two and a half years on his contract and it would be in Mr Bassarath’s and the T&TCB’s interest to heal any rift that may exist with him. Mr Bassarath’s first spell is indeed pleasing. It was certainly given a rousing start that must have left him and his team blushing, following the national pride which the whole country experienced with the success of Daren Ganga’s exciting squad in the India tournament. He must now capitalise on that by eliminating all bitterness and calling on his supporters and followers to extend their open arms to anyone who wants to serve the game.

It is hardly a secret that when the Murray team took office four years ago, many of its opponents unceremoniously found themselves out in the cold. It is only human nature to bear the scars of such wounds.. But Mr Bassarath must ensure that there is no tit for tat. As president he has to provide the healing balm. He has to be man enough to rise above those who may now wish to extract revenge and continue the disunity and bitterness of the campaign. He must understand that this will not be in the best interest of the country’s cricketing future. He has displayed excellent leadership so far. If it should continue, his term in office, without doubt, will be fruitful.