TTCB – News

Youth cricketers told to emulate Barath
February 16, 2011

LALMAN KOWLESSAR, centre, chairman of the Youth and Inter-Zone Competitions Committee makes a point to Wendell Constantine, left, of BG T&T and Arjune Samlal, secretary-general of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board

AZIM BASSARATH, right, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board meets the players from the South East team before the official start of the BG T&T National Zonal Youth cricket tournament yesterday at the National Cricket centre at Balmain, Couva.

YOUNG aspiring cricketers should emulate the example set by West Indies opening batsman Adrian Barath if they are to make a success of themselves at the highest levels of the game.

This advice was given by Lalman Kowlessar, chairman of the Youth and Inter-Zone Competitions Committee and head of the Under-19 and Under-17 selectors at yesterday’s formal opening of the BG T&T National Zonal Youth competition.

South East met North East at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain in Couva after a short opening ceremony attended by president of the T&TCB Azim Bassarath, T&TCB secretary-general Arjune Ramlal, Manohar Ramsaran, Administrative Officer of the T&TCB and Wendell Constantine representing BG T&T.

Kowlessar told the youngsters that by sponsoring the tournament, BG T&T is investing in the overall development of the participants who are challenged now more than ever by the ills in society including spiraling crime.

He said the onus now is on the young cricketers to go out on the field and distinguish themselves and be a credit to their teachers, families, community, country and ultimately the region.

Kowlessar, who was introduced by T&TCB secretary-general Ramlal as “Mr Cricket Development” said that over the years many future stars have emerged from the BG T&T competition which started in 1995.

“I remember the first match Adrian Barath played in the National Zonal Youth competition. He made 47 but his team lost. But he did not stop there and was picked for the national Under-15 team shortly after,” said Kowlessar.

Presently Barath is with the West Indies team in the Asian subcontinent preparing for the ICC World Cup which gets under in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday with an opening ceremony.

Kowlessar urged the youngsters to try very hard to combine success on the field of play with excellence in their schoolwork which is what is envisaged by everyone connected with the National Zonal Youth competition.

“I want to congratulate BG T&T for providing the opportunity for the youngsters to show their best and hope that the relationship with the T&TCB will continue into the future for the benefit of everyone,” said Kowlessar, a retired History Master and cricket coach of Presentation College, Chaguanas.

Constantine also gave a brief address which started as an inter-active session with the players when he questioned their progress in the game and in their academic pursuits, testing the youngsters on their satisfaction with their level of accomplishment so far.

He said the path of development involves “a movement to exercise, challenge each other and compete without fighting.”

T&TCB secretary-general Ramlal spoke on the importance of the cricketers to strive for the highest standards since he said he believed they all have the talent to go very far with the correct commitment and dedication.