’Cricket is in an upward growth and the most that I can see is that we should continue on an upward growth or even skyrocket.’
That was the view of newly-elected Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) treasurer Sukesh Maniam after the Board’s annual general meeting on Saturday at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva.
Maniam, who is the East Zone’s secretary, was on the side of Deryck Murray’s ’Friends of Cricket’ and was the only member of their slate to win a post with the new administration under president Azim Bassarath, who led the ’Movement for Change’.
As secretary of the East Zone, Maniam was part of the team, chaired by Tarandath Sammy, that won all the TTCB’s InterZone youth competitions this year and he expects that the interest and growth in the sport throughout Trinidad and Tobago will rise in the coming years.
’Records will show that the last four years under the Murray-led administration, there was fantastic growth in terms of cricket and in terms of the administration of cricket as well. In addition, resources and finances which were not readily available are much more available now.
’The accounts are in a much more healthy position and I think there are a lot more positives so that this administration has the opportunity to take things even in a better direction once they put their minds to it because everything has been set on a platter,’ said Maniam.
His initial reaction after Saturday’s election was one of ’confusion’, but he insisted that he is committed to ensuring that cricket in T&T continues to prosper.
’Of course I am a bit disappointed that my team lost and as a team member it feels odd and it feels like I am a lost sheep right now, but having spoken to people on both sides, they have suggested, based on what they know about me, that I should stay and contribute because at the end of the day it is contributing towards cricket and cricket administration.
’It is going to be rough but I have no problem working with the persons elected and I am sure they will have no problems working with me either so I am just hoping for the best,’ Maniam concluded.
