LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP
September 29th 2008

Kowlessar slams Rambaran

Former chairman of the Central Zonal and District Council of the T&T Cricket Board, Lalman Kowlessar has termed as erroneous, the reports being sent to the media by controversial head of the Central Zone, Narsingh Rambaran.

Kowlessar said: ”Rambaran apparently has a personal vendetta against Misri Lutchmedial and others in the Zone. And he is sending regular reports to the media stating that he has had no support from the executive of T&T Cricket Boad, relative to his on-going battle with fellow officers of the zone., including ex-chairman Lutchmedial, present vice - chairman Mozack Rahamat, and ex-treasurer Hadeed Ali, in addition to other sensitive matters.”

Executive member of the T&TCB, Kowlessar, who has been involved in cricket in Central for some 45 years and who is also the recipient of a National Award for his contribution to cricket was confident that the current impasse will be settled and cricket again will be the winner.

Kowlessar stated that when the allegations of fraud was first reported to the board, Forbes Persaud, CEO of the T&TCB did intervene and held discussions on more than one occasion with Rambaran on the issue. He said further to that, he was appointed by the board to arbitrate on the matter. Kowlessar claimed that :”Rambaran was very un-cooperative and seemed hell bent on tarnishing the names of members of the zone.

“He unilaterally suspended all other business of the zone to embark on this course of action, so that nothing else is happening in the zone.’ Kowlessar went on to explain that if Central Zone is in crisis, as was reported in another newspaper on Wednesday, it is only as a result of Rambaran’s doing.

Trinidad Guardian further learnt that two months ago, a three-man committee was appointed by the board to ascertain the stability of the Zone. The high powered committee is headed by 2nd Vice President of the Board, Leo Doodnath, and includes 1st Vice President Azim Bassarath and Persaud. When contacted Doodnath was hesitant to comment on the matter, saying only that it is a sensitive issue and that his committee has already held three meetings within the zone.

“What is prolonging closure to the situation and impeding the work of the committee, is the one sided reports that members of the Zone who are involved in the matter are giving to the media,” said Doodnath. He expressed the view though that he is confident that the zone will be stabilized and that Central cricket will rise again.

Rambaran is a UNC A County Councillor in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.

Rambaran faces no confidence motion in Central Zone

Embattled chairman of the Central Zonal Council, Councillor Narsingh Rambaran has now been slapped with a no confidence motion for allegedly bringing the zone into disrepute.

The Trinidad Guardian learnt that the motion dated 9th September 2008 was filed by council member Noy Francois and delivered both by hand and registered post to Rambaran more than two weeks ago.

In the motion, Rambaran is accused of using the media to tarnish the names of officials of the Zone and to deliberately propagate misinformation to the public.

The Trinidad Guardian has also learnt that many zonal council members are very upset because though in receipt of the documented motion, Ramsaran has not carded any zonal council meeting to deal with the matter. One zonal council member when contacted, Keith Joseph, stated that he is "very disturbed because the cricket business of the zone is on a standstill." He hoped that "Rambaran would call a meeting and entertain the matter after which all members should accept the majority decision of the council." Earlier in the week ex-chairman of the zone, Lalman Kowlessar, viewed Rambaran's actions as a personal vendetta against officials of the zone. He also expressed the view that Rambaran had shelved all other important business of the zone to concentrate on this course of action. When pressed further, he stated that "at the last Council meeting for example, only because the members insisted, a committee was set up to organise the zone's annual presentation function. Rambaran named himself and secretary Mark Gangadeen on the committee and to date nothing has been done." Kowlessar is now insisting that "Rambaran should call a council meeting and get on with the business of the zone."

According to the T&T Cricket Board's regulations, in order for a no confidence motion to be carried, the motion must receive two thirds the votes of the members present at the meeting.

Eighteen members constitute the Central Zonal Council.

Shaffrali promoted to vice-chairman of South-East

Former top regional umpire Clarence Shaffrali has been elevated to the position of Vice-Chairman of the South-East Zonal Council of the T&T Cricket Board.

Following the annual general meeting of the zone last week, Shaffrali has replaced Lutchmienarine Ramdhan who has since migrated to Canada. According to Chairman, Azim Bassarath, the zone will bowl off its 2009 season on January 24, with a series of matches throughout the zone.

He said that Fifa vice-president Austin ‘Jack’ Warner assisted with a sponsorship of $50,000 during the last three seasons and he is hoping that the well known International sports administrator will come forward again to assist cricket in the rural part of Trinidad.

T&T Cricket Board South-East Zonal Council Officers and Members 2008-2009:

Chairman—Azim Bassarath. Vice-Chairman—Clarence Shaffrali. Secretary—Kishor Nandlal. Treasurer—Sheldon Williams. Public Relations Officer—Naz Yacoob. Club Representatives—Azim Bassarath, Kishor Nandlal, Rodney Rahim, David Akaloo, Latchmienarine Ramdhan, Sheldon Williams, Rampersad Ramlackhan, Dindial Bridgelal. Nominated Members—Henry Seepersad, Seelal Mathura. Umpires Representatives—Clarence Shaffrali, Inskip Watson. Primary School Representative—Lester Haynes. Representatives to T&T Cricket Board—Clarence Shaffrali, Kishor Nandlal, Sheldon Williams.

Committees

Emergency—Azim Bassarath, Kishor Nandlal, Clarence Shaffrali, Sheldon Williams.

Inter-Zone—Kishor Nandal (chairman), Clarence Shaffrali, Seelal Mathura, Henry Seepersad (secretary), Rampersad Ramlakhan. Fixtures Grounds—Clarence Shaffrali (chairman), Hazaree Ramdeen, Kishor Nandlal, Sheldon Williams (secretary), Gowrie Roopnarine.

Competitions Committee—Azim Bassarath (chairman), Clarence Shaffrali, Kishor Nandlal, Rampersad Ramlakhan, Kelvin Mohammed (secretary), Dindial Bridgelal.

Disciplinary—Reynold Siewdass (chairman), Inskip Watson, Henry Seepersad (secretary), Samlal Sookoo, Dindial Bridgelal.

Finance & Marketing—Azim Bassarath (chairman), Kishor Nandlal, Clarence Shaffrali, Dindial Bridgelal, Kelvin Mohammed (secretary), Rodney Rahim, Seelal Mathura, Rampersad Ramlackhan.

Youth & Coaching—Kishor Nandlal (chairman), Rydell Ramsaran, Farzan Ali, Henry Seepersad (secretary), Seelal Mathura, Clarence Shaffrali.

Youth Selection—Kishor Nandlal (chairman), Sheldon Williams, Patrick Harriot, Rydell Ramsaran (secretary), Farzan Ali.

Senior Selection - Kishor Nandlal (chairman), Rampersad Ramlakhan, Inskip Watson, Dindial Bridgelal (secretary), Captain—elect.

Club Welfare and Development—Azim Bassarath (chairman), Henry Seepersad, Clarence Shaffrali, Dindial Bridgelal, Kishor Nandlal (secretary), Rampersad Ramlakhan, Rodney Rahim.

Statistics—Kishor Nandlal (chairman), Henry Seepersad, Kelvin Mohammed (secretary), Seelal Mathura.

Trustees - Rampersad Ramlakhan, Seelal Mathura.

Proposed Cricket Dates—2009

SENIOR DIVISION & DIVISION I
S. LEAGUE     20 / 20 LEAGUE

• Round 1—Saturday 24th January, 10th & 11th February, 15th, 21st & 28th February.
• Round 2—Sunday 25th January, 17th & 18th February, 15th, 21st & 22nd March .
• Round 3—Saturday 31st January, 25th & 26th February, 28th, 29th & 30th March.
• Round 4—Sunday 1st February , 3rd & 4th March 5th, 18th & 19th April
• Round 5—Saturday 7th February, 10th & 11th March, 25th & 26th April & 2nd May.
• Round 6—Sunday 8th February , 3rd, 9th & 10th May.
• Round 7—Saturday 14th February , 16th, 17th & 23rd May.
• 1/4 Final—Sunday 1st March 1/4 Final—24th & 25th March.
• Semi Final—Saturday 14th March, Semi Final—7th & 8th April.
• Final—Saturday 4th April, Final—13th April—Easter Monday.

DIVISION II
S. LEAGUE LEAGUE

• Round 1—Sunday 25th January, 8th & 15th March.
• Round 2—Sunday 1st February, 22nd & 29th March.
• Round 3—Sunday 8th February, 5th & 11th April.
• Round 4—Sunday 15th February,19th & 26th April.
• Round 5—Saturday 21st February,* 2nd & 3rd May.
• Round 6—Sunday 22nd February,9th & 10th May.
• Round 7—Sunday 1st March,16th & 17th May.
• Semi Final—Monday 30th March
• Semi Final—23rd & 24th May.
• Final—30th & 31st May
• Final—Saturday 11th April (Glorious Saturday)

N.B.

• CARNIVAL: 23 & 24 / 2
• TEST MATCH: 6-10 / 3
• EASTER : 10-13 / 4

Guillen hits half-century in Twenty20 trial match

Talented left-handed batsmen Justin Guillen stole the spotlight in the final Twenty20 trial match to select the national team for next month’s Stanford Super Series in Antigua.

Guillen who is currently atop the averages in the Barbados Cricket Association 2008 season, struck an effortless unbeaten 57 to lead Ramdin X1 to a comfortable 55-run-win against a Ganga X1 yesterday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

Guillen, a former T&T Under-19 batsman struck three fours and two sixes off 44 balls as the Ramdin X1 tallied a competitive 143 for four from the allotted 20 overs. He was well supported by allrounder Richard Kelly who made an aggressive unbeaten 42 off 32 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes. Former T&T Under 19 fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was the top bowler for Ganga X1 with two wickets for 22 runs.

In response, Ganga X1 folded for a disappointing 88 off 19.1 overs, with opening batsman Lendl Simmons three for 15 being the leading bowler for Ramdin X1.

Simmons received admirable support from left-arm spinners Dane Teelucksingh (2-13) and Rishi Bachan (2-18).

The national team was expected to be selected last night.

The national team for the troubled Stanford Super Series was expected to be selected last night.

The October 25 to November 1 series was thrown into jeopardy when Digicel filed an injunction against the staging of the match, contending that the deal between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Stanford Twenty20 was an infringement of their rights as official West Indies cricket sponsors.

After offers and counter-offers of compromise, Stanford and Digicel are no closer to a solution.

In the latest development, Stanford has issued a release saying Digicel has refused to allow Stanford to participate in the legal action the telecommunications company has brought against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in relation to the Stanford Super Series.

“Digicel claims that to permit Stanford 20/20 such access would ‘disrupt’ the arbitration which is set to begin on Friday in the High Court in London,” the Stanford release stated.

In the Stanford Super Series, T&T are slated to face the Stanford All-Stars on October 25 and England’s Middlesex on October 27.

Summarised scores

AT NCC: Ramdin X1: 143-4 (20 overs) (Justin Guillen 57 not out, Richard Kelly 42 not out, Shannon Gabriel 2-22) v Ganga X1: 88 all out (19.1) (Gibran Mohammed 17, Lendl Simmons 3-15, Dane Teelucksingh 2-13, Rishi Bachan 2-18). Ramdin X1 won by 55 runs.

STANFORD SUPER SERIES MATCH SCHEDULE

• Saturday October 25th–Stanford Superstar v Trinidad & Tobago
• Sunday October 26th–England v Middlesex
• Monday October 27th–Trinidad & Tobago v Middlesex
• Tuesday October 28th–England v Trinidad & Tobago
• Thursday October 30th–Stanford Superstars v Middlesex
• Saturday November 1st–Stanford 20/20 For 20 million–Stanford Superstars v England

North schools celebrate in October

The annual presentation function of the North Zone of the PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League will take place on October 18, Port-of-Spain City Hall at Knox Street, from 5.30 pm.

During the 2008 season, outstanding honours were shared by Fatima College in the Under 14, Malick Senior Comprehensive in the Seniors, St Mary’s College in the U16, Diego Martin Government Secondary in the Girls Open and Fatima/Success Laventille in Form One.

In the Knock-Out, Tranquillity, Maple Leaf and Belmont Secondary were successful, while St Mary’s College became the new National Under-16 champions.

The five ‘Cricketers of the Year’ in each division, the ‘Personality of the Year’, the ‘Most Valuable Player’, the ‘ Individual of the Year’ and the award for ‘Excellence in Academics and Sport will be announced at the function.

Several dignitaries have been invited to grace the occasion with their presence.

South Zone prize giving set for October 12

The 2008 prize giving ceremony of the South Zonal Cricket Council will be held on October 12 at PowerGen’s Sports Club, Syne Village in Penal at 6 pm.

Chairman of the Zone, Leo Doodnath said officials of the Zone met recently at Guaracara Park to take in a review of the season and also to plan ahead. Clarke Rochard of Penal won the first division title by just one point from Juniors of Pleasantville. The Division II title was taken by T&TEC who also won the inaugural Twenty/20 tournament. The 30-overs limited overs crown went to Young Lions of Piparo.

On the players who is in line to collect the ‘Player of the Year’ award is veteran spinner Reynold Sewdass of Young Lions Cricket Club. In the 2008 season, he played five matches, bowling 106 overs and taking 32 wickets at an average of 7.09.