PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – High profile Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Deryck Murray lost his bid for re-election yesterday when he was swept from power in a stunning upset following elections at the annual general meeting.
The former West Indies vice-captain, who has led the TTCB for the last four years, was defeated 26-23 by out-going first vice-president Azim Bassarath, in what was a bruising campaign in the run up to the polls.
Bassarath’s team, dubbed the “Movement of Change”, made a clean sweep of nearly all the top TTCB posts, taking 10 of the 11 positions contested overall.
Another major casualty was Board secretary Forbes Persaud who lost by two votes to former executive Board member Arjoon Ramlal. The outspoken Persaud also serves as chief executive of the TTCB.
“Democracy has prevailed. The board members have spoken,” a disappointed Persaud said.
Patrick Rampersad, who was returned as an executive member, said the new executive would seek to unite the cricket fraternity.
“On getting into office now, I would to assure the national population that we are all embrace, all inclusive. There will be no victimisation,” Rampersad assured.
Murray’s loss would have come as a major shock, as Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket had made several strides in recent years under his management.
The national side are the reigning limited overs and Twenty20 champions, and were good enough to reach the final of this month’s Twenty20 Champions League in India, the world T20 club championship.
