Currently suffering the effects of a sponsorship backlash, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath is hoping that the Knight Riders’ group’s backing of the T20 Festival will spark renewed interest from the local business community.
At yesterday’s launch of the TTCB’s T20 Festival of which Caribbean Premier League franchise, Trinbago Knight Riders is the major sponsor, Bassarath admitted again that sponsorship support had been “severely affected” by the disclosure of fraud involving a former Board employee.
Last October, it was revealed that a report was made by the treasurer of the TTCB Kiswah Chaitoo in which he stated that $548,045.05 in cheques were written to a former employee of the TTCB and could not be accounted for in the TTCB’s audited accounts.
Chaitoo later reported the matter to the Fraud Squad, without the permission of the Board. Chaitoo has since had a motion of no confidence successfully moved against him 35-12 by TTCB members.
And commenting on the fallout from the fraud revelation, Bassarath yesterday said: “We have lost all our sponsors for our youth tournaments,” adding, “The matter with the former employee who would have committed an act which is also before the police...has severely affected the Board’s finances.”
Basarath did not give financial details of the agreement signed with the Knight Riders, saying a non-disclosure agreement was in place. However, in stressing the importance of the new partnership that is also backed by the Caribbean Premier League, the TTCB president said: “It’s two major stakeholders in cricket coming on board and showing confidence in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board. It is supposed to help.”
In his speech yesterday, at the National Cricket Centre, Bassarath said: “It is a show of bold corporate confidence by the TKR and the CPL in the administration of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board for teaming up with the national cricket organisation in this latest venture.
“The owners of TKR, the most successful franchise in CPL history with several world-rated T20 stars have been highly commended for their timely intervention.”
The annual T20 Festival, played in recent years at the National Cricket Centre and Brian Lara Cricket Academy, will this year be staged at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Bassarath announced that the Queen’s Park Cricket Club will be hosts of the tournament for the next three years, “with an option for another three years.”
Speaking on behalf of the QPCC, its president Dr Nigel Camacho described the partnership as a “no-brainer” and said he expected, “a really competitive tournament.” Bassarath said he welcomed the “valuable partnership and sponsorship” with the QPCC, “which will ensure the emergence of a new generation of cricket stars.”
The April 26-May 4 series will see two matches per day being played, with matches being televised via Flow cable TV with the games also being shown in India. Eight teams will take part in the Premiership 1 competition, including defending champions Central Sports.
And speaking about the opportunity to play before a wider audience that will include cricket scouts, TKR manager Colin Borde said: “The important thing about this (venture) is opportunities for people to see the talent.”
Premiership 1 winners will receive $80,000, while the runners-up will earn $50,000.
