PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Azim Bassarath was returned unopposed for a second consecutive, two-year term as president of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board on Saturday.

This followed a late withdrawal of the challenge by the rival Friends of Cricket group at the T&TCB’s annual general meeting at the National Cricket Centre.

In his acceptance speech, Bassarath said he was humbled by the opportunity to lead the T&TCB for a second term of office and thanked the national representatives for their show of confidence in his team.

He said the coming two years will see the strengthening of the structure of the game in the two-island republic to ensure that national teams excel at all levels.

Bassarath said focus will be placed once again on the development of facilities at the grassroots level of the game to serve the respective communities and an added effort will be made to further extend the programmes targetting the training of zonal and club officials.

He said more respect will be shown for the contribution made over the past years to those who had sacrificed to help establish the T&TCB as an independent, successful organization, committed to serving all sectors of the national community with transparency and accountability.

The incumbent members of the Movement for Change slate led by Bassarath were all re-elected unopposed and returned to office by acclamation.

The other top officers elected back on the national executive were First Vice President Dudnath Ramkessoon, Second Vice President Lalman Kowlessar, General Secretary Arjoon Ramlal and Treasurer Sukesh Maniam.

Executive Members elected, also unopposed, were Dr. Allen Sammy and Baldath Mahabir, T&T’s two representatives on the West Indies Cricket Board, as well as Patrick Rampersad, Women’s cricket icon Ann Browne-John, Don Asgarali and Ian Ramlal.

The sudden turn of events was not totally unexpected, as Movement for Change supporters have over the past couple months secured the top positions in zonal elections held by T&TCB affiliates.

The incoming officers had given a strong signal that they were in full support of Bassarath and his executive, despite stinging criticism about its performance from Friends of Cricket and Minister of Sport Anil Roberts.