WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is concerned that the Trinidad and Tobago government will refuse to allow the hosting of the third Test match of the upcoming series against India at the Queen’s Park Oval.The worry comes amidst calls from the regional leaders of CARICOM for the WICB to be disbanded, with new T&T Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley being particularly strident.
Rowley stated that based on discussions at a recent CARICOM meeting in Belize, which spoke to the ineffectiveness of the current WICB management system and the current impasse, it was felt that there was nothing more to gain from talks with the WICB. It is that particular statement that seems to have caused worry for the Board.
“Given all that the prime minister has said, it seems impossible to believe that he will support the match being staged at the Queen’s Park Oval. Once they do not support it, there is no way that a Test can be staged in T&T,” The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian quoted an unnamed official as saying.
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath is, however, confident that the government will continue to remain corporative with the WICB.
The Indians are scheduled to tour the West Indies from July 14 to August 11 for a series of four Tests with the third scheduled for T&T from July 28 to August 1. The first Test match will be played in St Lucia, while the second is scheduled for Antigua and the fourth in Jamaica.