PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – A West Indies Cricket Board director has apologised for the accommodation problems experienced by three regional teams who arrived here Tuesday for the sixth round of the WICB first class championship. Trinidadian Baldath Mahabir made the apology during his address on Wednesday night at a reception hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board for the six teams doing battle here this weekend.

“This, however, is no excuse for inept organisation. Lets hope that in the future we will get these simple things right,” said Mahabir, also a member of the TTCB’s executive. Regional cricketers from Barbados, Jamaica and the Windward Islands were forced to sleep on the corridors of the Cascadia Hotel after arriving from Guyana around 8 am and not being able to check in until 3 pm.

A team official, speaking under condition of anonymity, criticized the WICB’s travel arrangements for the players, pointing out they had been traveling since 2 am and should have been afforded better accommodation arrangements. Azim Bassarath, the newly elected TTCB president, also offered his apologies for the mix up which occurred on Carnival Tuesday, the final day of the country’s Carnival.

“To the members of the other squads, we apologise for any shortcomings on your arrival day but the same being on the single biggest tourism day for T&T, it was certain to provide challenges,” Bassarath said. “Perhaps some more thought should have been given to the teams travel plans.” Mahabir told the players and officials attending the reception they were all part of team West Indies which they wanted to be a successful one unit.

“We must appreciate therefore that we are all part of team West Indies,” he pointed out.

“We are not doing well and it is our collective responsibility to help in changing that. We must think that we can effect positive change. People feel motivated only when they think motivated thoughts.”

The reception was attended by several personalities including TTCB first vice-president Dudnath Ramkessoon, Justice Anthony Lucky and Sports Minister Gary Hunt.