‘POLITICS OVER CRICKET’

Beneath increased scrutiny over his board’s handling of up to date issues exciting its individuals, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath is standing his ground.

He continues to refute claims, to illustrate, that the recent Special Frequent Assembly called on April 17, used to be unconstitutional.

He also cleared the air by methodology of the rational for the TTCB’s handling of the recent financial revelations of alleged fraud and the next actions to eradicate treasurer Kiswah Chaitoo through a circulation of no self assurance on February 28.

Two letters, one from the North Zone Cricket Council and the assorted from Central Sports president Richard Ramkissoon, were sent to the Board elevating questions about the calling of a Special Frequent Assembly for April 17, with the predominant merchandise on the agenda being the affirmation of minutes of the meeting of February 28.

Every letters also alluded the that the reality that the TTCB has no longer called a quarterly meeting previously in 2024.

“We demand that the Board name an frequent overall meeting as is alleged to happen every quarter to substantiate the minutes of the meeting,” the North Zone wrote.

The meeting referred to used to be the 2023 AGM.

In his letter, Ramkissoon said that the TTCB Structure lays down strict guidelines to apply with admire to Special Frequent Meetings.

Minutes of a Special Frequent Assembly would perchance be confirmed at the next Quarterly Assembly.

“It is my firm belief that this meeting is unconstitutional and I’m calling on the executive of the Board to straight card a Quarterly Assembly at the earliest time so as that this field and a lot replacement points would perchance be dealt with,” Ramkissoon’s letter said.

Responding to questions posed by the Disclose through whatsapp this week, the TTCB boss said that ethical advice used to be won earlier than proceeding with the meeting of February 28 and April 17 and that the eliminating of Chaitoo used to be no longer accomplished to conceal the relaxation up or to persecute the individual for reporting the alleged fraud to the police.

Requested if the conferences on February 28 and April 17 were called in accordance to the TTCB structure, Bassarath said: “The TTCB sought ethical advice earlier than proceeding with both conferences on February twenty eighth and April 17th, so certain, I’m assured that both were held basically based mostly on the TTCB’s Structure. “

Requested why the TTCB regarded to be definite to eradicate Chaitoo, Bassarath said that used to be no longer the case.

“That is no longer so. We deem that the most salient functions relating to to Mr Chaitoo’s departure are being omitted,” Bassarath said.

“It is being insinuated that Mr Chaitoo used to be eliminated because he reported the matter of the misappropriation of funds to the Police. That is no longer so. Of course, we’re very relieved this matter is in the hands of law enforcement, as it must be.”

“Mr Chaitoo used to be eliminated because he allegedly acted in contravention of the TTCB’s Structure by leaking the Board’s confidential files/documents into the public area with out first acquiring the requisite permission to achieve so and bringing the Board into disrepute which skill,” Bassarath added.

In December, Chaitoo introduced to the admire of the Board, alleged fraud exciting “missing monies” amounting to bigger than $500,000, which he reported to the Police.

Chaitoo used to be eliminated from his post through a circulation of no self assurance passed by a two-thirds majority (35-12) of the Board on February 28.

A subsequent TTCB media liberate said that “the treasurer used to be no longer fired for whistle-blowing”.

“The circulation of no self assurance in the Treasurer of the TTCB used to be efficiently carried thanks to his role in leaking the TTCB’s interior affairs into the public area, with out the required approval,” the TTCB media liberate on March 7 said.

Requested if he used to be troubled the efforts to eradicate Chaitoo would possibly perchance per chance per chance also give the impression the board is persecuting a man attempting to achieve the particular thing, Bassarath said: “I’m concerned that the TTCB remains to be misrepresented in the public area and I will let the vote of 35-12 talk in this regard.”

“It is regrettable that ‘politics’ continues to achieve priority over the game of cricket itself,” the TTCB boss added.

Chaitoo has since appealed his eliminating as treasurer. That charm used to be sent to the TTCB’s Supreme Appellant Committee, with the hearing region for next month.

Requested if he felt the actions of the Board in facing Chaitoo will place it in a correct gentle with doable sponsors, Bassarath said: “All efforts being taken in this matter, besides to the alleged misuse of funds by a worn employee, are being taken to provide protection to the TTCB’s popularity.”

Sooner or later week’s initiate of the TTCB’s T20 Competition of which Caribbean Premier League franchise, Trinbago Knight Riders is the most important sponsor, Bassarath admitted all but again that sponsorship make stronger had been “severely affected” by the disclosure of fraud exciting a worn Board employee.

“Now we believe misplaced all our sponsors for our early life tournaments,” Bassarath printed final week.

Requested this week if the Board will receive any earnings from the TV coverage of the T20 Competition, Bassarath said: “There would possibly be not this sort of thing as a earnings from the TV coverage.”

And referring all but again to the Chaitoo matter, the president said that, “despite what persons are being resulted in deem, I’m assured that the facts of this matter will seemingly be exposed as it progresses and that the TTCB is no longer going to proceed to be penalised for the alleged spoiled behaviour of a single individual.”