The tumultuous and unfortunate aborted tour of India by the West Indies cricket team has brought to the fore the opinions and involvement of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), which is headed by 57-year old Azim Bassarath. Bassarath is now into his fifth year as president of the TTCB, one of the most important sporting bodies in the country. Charged with overseeing the operations of the board, Bassarath and his team are a busy bunch given that cricket is now a year-round sport. He also serves as a director on the West Indies Cricket Board.
His ascendancy to the position of president of the TTCB has seen him through a journey in the sport of cricket dating back to being a foundation member of the St Mary’s Superstars Sports Club in 1988 and becoming its president in 1997, a position he has held since then. Along the way, he has been a junior cricket coach, umpire, team manager, member and chairman of various TTCB committees and has received many awards for cricket and community work. He is employed at the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation as county superintendent.
Tell us about your early years in life, where were you born and where did you grow up?
I grew up in the village of St Mary’s, Moruga, where I still reside to this day. As a child, I belonged to a very close-knit family of hardworking parents, two older brothers, two younger brothers and a sister. I grew up in close proximity to the St Mary’s Recreation Ground, which I must say was a major aspect of my life growing up, as most of my time was spent there. I considered that ground as my second home. I think my love for the game of cricket originated from there.
At what schools/institutions (primary, secondary etc) did you receive your education?
I attended the St Mary’s Government School and some years later, on a scholarship, a private secondary school in Princes Town, Tagore High School, named after Rabindranath Tagore.
When and how did you get into the sport of cricket?
I held an interest in cricket from a very young age. As a child, I would collect the sport sections of all the daily newspapers and kept a scrapbook on all the latest cricketing news and profiles of the prominent players of the game. I also shared my time with other sports such as football and table tennis, but cricket has always been my preference. I even played cricket for my school and had a vision of becoming a professional cricketer. I had never imagined myself being president of the TTCB.
Tell us about your inspiration to do the type of “work” you do in cricket.
My sole purpose is to serve the game that I love so much. It is my vision to see cricket continuously advance and for the T&T brand to become more recognized both regionally and internationally. I work tirelessly and will continue to do so with the assistance and support of my executive, to see that this comes to fruition.
How do you see this saga currently surrounding the West Indies team unfolding?
What has happened in India is indeed very unfortunate. This incident will hurt West Indies cricket for a long time to come. It is unlike me to point fingers at anyone in particular, but this situation could have been avoided. We must now engage in discussion to move ahead with our cricket, and it is my hope that things fall back in place as soon as possible.
Now give us your answer, if you can, as an ordinary citizen, a fan even, like most of our readers.
I would probably have to say, generally speaking, that it is wise to get all the facts before passing judgment on any person or entity.
What are the challenges that face you and your board in achieving your goals and how will you overcome them?
Since assuming office in 2009 we were severely hampered with funding as most of you already know. Our youth programmes have been severely affected as a result of this, as we were not able to touch on areas that we felt could have assisted in developing and moulding even better cricketers.
The clubs, which are the backbone of the TTCB, were not assisted as we would have liked. We requested additional funding for our clubs but this never materialized, without so much as an acknowledgement from the relevant authorities.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life, outside of your immediate family, and how did they?
It would have to be Dr Alloy Lequay. This man transformed cricket administration in T&T. When I first met Dr Lequay, he struck me as an honest and humble individual who worked tirelessly for cricket. He would always give 100 per cent in any activities he undertook. He was
indeed a diligent worker who has made a sincere contribution to society.
If you could interview or dine with anyone, who would it be and why and what question would you be eager to ask?
Young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. I’ve chosen her because of the tremendous impact she has created wherever she goes. She is a very intelligent young woman who has captivated the hearts of so many people around the world. The one question I would ask her is “Where do
you get the confidence and energy to go on like this at such a young age?”
Being in the public eye, what would you like people to know about you that they probably don’t know?
I am a very family oriented person, and my grandchildren mean the world to me.
What are some of your achievements as president of the TTCB over the past five years?
There are several achievements but I will just name a few: T&T winning the Caribbean T20 tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013; winning three consecutive terms as president of the TTCB; managing with minimal funding and successfully administering our programmes; safely guiding this ship for the past five years, without any distractions or obstacles along the way.
What goals do you still have to achieve in cricket and otherwise?
To see T&T win the Regional 4-Day competition, and to see West Indies cricket rise yet again to the top. I would also like to see the politics in cricket removed and for everyone to work together towards the betterment of the sport.
What would you say is your recipe for success?
I would consider a combination of hard work, humility and perseverance as the ideal recipe.
Describe yourself in two words—one beginning with A, the other with B, your initials.
I would have to say Amiable and Balanced.