PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Azim Bassarath has also raised doubt over the claim by Barbados Cricket Association president, Conde Riley, that Kensington Oval has been already awarded next year’s Twenty20 World Cup final by the International Cricket Council.
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president and Cricket West Indies vice-president said he was unaware of where Riley would have derived such information, pointing out that the ICC was not expected to announce the venue allocation of matches until next month.
Riley recently claimed to be in possession of documentation from cricket’s world governing body, confirming Barbados would host the final of the June 4-30 showpiece.
“I haven’t seen any documentation of that nature. I don’t know if they (ICC) would’ve sent anything to the Barbados Cricket Association – they will deal directly with Cricket West Indies,” Bassarath said in an interview on i95.5 FM here.
“So I’m not sure if he saw a document or he would’ve come across something saying that, but we’re not aware.
“And I know for a fact that decision has not been made as yet, and the reports that we’ve had from the ICC and from our people that represent Cricket West Indies at ICC, is that some time in November that decision will be made.”
He added: “I don’t know where that document emerged from or if that document at all is in existence, referring to that final being played in Barbados.”
Bassarath comments come after CWI president Dr Kyshore Shallow also dismissed Riley’s claims.
Shallow noted that Barbados was one of three countries submitting bids to host the final, with Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago the other bidders.
“Nothing has been communicated back to Cricket West Indies about the finals,” Shallow said.
Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago are among seven host venues identified by the ICC to stage matches during next year’s tournament, which will be co-hosted by United States.
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines were also named as host venues.
Bassarath conceded the situation presented the wrong image to the public.
“Of course it doesn’t look good from the outside and I think the president would’ve spoken to Conde about it,” Bassarath said.
“We haven’t have a chance to speak to him as yet but I’m quite sure a discussion will take place shortly.
“We have to wait and see when the decision is made in November. I, for one, know for a fact that no final decision has been made as yet with respect to where the finals would be played.”
