Lequay: Only the best team can get support (15 July 1999)

15 July 1999

Lequay: Only the best team can get support

Irving Ward

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control, Alloy Lequay yesterday offered no comment on the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs' decision to withdraw funding for airline tickets for the 15-member national Women's cricket team.

Stating that he was appointed in an official capacity as mediator, Lequay disclosed that he preferred not to "say anything'' on the matter because it would be a conflict of interest.

Lequay was called in by Minister of Sport Manohar Ramsaran to resolve the impasse that had arisen between the T&TCBC and players who failed to attend trial sessions for the regional tournament which starts in Jamaica this weekend.

The local cricket boss, however, explained that the Ministry's policy concerning national teams selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago.

"The policy as it relates to national teams is that only the best teams should be supported to represent the country at tournaments of this level,'' he revealed.

"And with 17 of the original 24 withdrawing from the original squad, there really can't be an argument that a new 17 could be as strong as these 17 since these 17 were the best players since they were the first to be picked,'' he elaborated.

Several players failed to turn up at the trials in protest at the omission of veteran women's cricketer Carol Ann James from the sessions.

A less-than-happy team flew out yesterday for the West Indies Women cricket championship after Director of Sport Neville Chance informed them of the Ministry's position last Friday.

The Express's efforts to contact Chance failed to yield any results as he was said to be out of the country.

Source :: The Trinidad Express