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• CWI vice-president Azim Bassarath and player-turned-commentator Samuel Badree awarded T&T's prestigious Hummingbird medals

  For their many years of exemplary service to the sport of cricket in Trinidad and Tobago, cricket administrator Azim Bassarath and former player Samuel Badree received the Hummingbird Medal Gold at the twin-island republic’s National Awards Ceremony held on Sunday at President’s House.

  The Hummingbird Medal may be awarded to any person (citizen as well as non-citizen) who has rendered loyal and devoted service beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago in any field of human endeavour or for gallantry or other humane action.

  It may be awarded in Gold, Silver or Bronze in accordance with the assessed level of the service rendered.

  Bassarath, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and Vice President of Cricket West Indies was recognized for his work as a cricket administrator. When he became CWI Vice President in March this year, Bassarath became the first administrator from the country to serve in that role.

  Under his watch, Trinidad and Tobago has produced some of that country’s finest cricketers including Kieron Pollard and Badree, who was honoured for his work in sport and education.

  Badree, who is also now a commentator, was a member of West Indies' T20 World Cup winning teams in 2012 and 2016. The 42-year-old former leg spinner has also been an educator for over two decades and is the chairman of Badree’s Academy of Sport Education.

  Badree has also served as an administrator and is a former secretary of the south zone cricket council of the TTCB.

• CWI CEO Grave outlines next steps after host countries announced for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

  In June next year, the West Indies, along with the USA, will host their third senior men’s ICC tournament when the cricket world descends upon our region for the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

  The West Indies previously hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2007 as well as the second edition of the T20 World Cup two years later.

  Last week, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago were announced as the seven Caribbean countries that will host matches along with New York, Texas and Florida in the USA.

  CEO of Cricket West Indies, Johnny Grave, described the confirmation of the region as hosts as a “big landmark” in a CWI interview last week and is looking forward to inviting the rest of the world to the Caribbean.

  “It’s a big landmark for us at Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the ICC because, having this confirmation now that seven of our host countries have made successful bids to host matches means that a lot of the work and detailed planning that we need to do in order to make the most of this huge opportunity to host out third men’s ICC tournament in the West Indies, and this time in partnership with our friends at USA cricket, can start,” he said.

  He also went into what are the next steps in preparing for next year’s festivities.

  “The next big step is to get the match schedule agreed with the ICC. We’ve got the ten hist venues. The next stage is to work through the detailed match schedule. This is the first World Cup ever to have 20 teams so it’s a big tournament to organize and there’s a small window from early June to the 30^th of June when the final will take place to get all the matches in. We’ve got group stages after the warm-up games. We’ve then got the super eights stage then semi-finals and final so, once that schedule is agreed, then it’s all systems go in terms of tickets being on sale around December to coincide with us welcoming England to the region,” Grave said.

  “It’s really important that we get the match schedules announced so that we can invite the world to come to the Caribbean next year,” he added.

  Grave also expressed gratitude to the various Governments who put forward successful bids to host matches.

  “We’re enormously grateful for the continued support we get from the Governments of the West Indies,” he said.

  “All of them that put forward bids have been successful in securing matches which is great news. We’re really looking forward to some of the improvements that those Governments have put forward in their proposals to us and the ICC in terms of ensuring that they are ready for what is the pinnacle of the men’s game currently. It’s a huge opportunity for the region to use the platform of hundreds of millions of fans watching our beautiful countries and our iconic venues and we want everyone in the world to come to the Caribbean and experience what we have to offer,” he added.

  While encouraging people from all over the world to make the trip, Grave also urged local fans to come out and support the regional side in their bid for a third World T20 title.

  “Absolutely. We’ve seen that unique kind of atmosphere when we hosted the 2018 Women’s World T20 with big crowds in St. Lucia and Antigua when the West Indies played and I’m sure when the West Indies play next June there’ll be big crowds at all the venues,” he said.

  “We want every host country to show what a welcoming and exciting place this is to watch and play cricket and it’s really important that the fans come out in their masses. The school children will be invited as part of our community engagement program so that we can show what kind of an atmosphere it is to the world,” Grave added.

   

   

   

   

• Axed Jason Roy urged to remain positive with World Cup role still a possibility

  England assistant Marcus Trescothick has urged Jason Roy to remain upbeat despite his World Cup axing, insisting the big-hitting opener could yet make an impression at the tournament.

  Even though he was named in England’s provisional 15-man squad for the defence of their crown in India, starting in less than a fortnight, Roy made way for Harry Brook in a dramatic late change to the travelling party.

  The decision invited speculation about Roy’s international future, which intensified after he rejected England’s approach to play in three ODIs against Ireland, although the 33-year-old has struggled with back spasms.

  Having been invited to be a non-travelling standby for the World Cup, Roy, so crucial to the side that won the trophy in 2019, has been told to keep his spirits up as injury could swing his fortunes.

  “I’ve not spoken to Jason,” said Trescothick, an Ashes 2005-winning opening batter. “He’s surely disappointed but you’ve got to remain positive that he can still make an impact.

  “Reserves have a big part in World Cups, you pick up one injury and someone comes in, they could come in and make a hell of a lot of runs.

  “If he keeps himself fit and ready to go, should we need him to come out then we’ll make that call.”

  Trescothick and the rest of the England coaching staff will oversee the final ODI against Ireland at Bristol on Tuesday before embarking to the subcontinent for the World Cup on Wednesday evening.

  England’s World Cup squad have been rested for this Metro Bank series, with a shadow side captained by Zak Crawley taking a 1-0 lead at Trent Bridge on Saturday – the first ODI having been abandoned – with Will Jacks one of the standout performers.

  Jacks made a sparkling 94 off 88 balls in England’s 48-run win but the array of top-order options they have to choose from means he cannot take his place for granted.

  “It was a good opportunity for him to play a longer innings and play a bit more,” Trescothick added.

  “We know how much of a talent he is, it’s his opportunity – getting the chance to play is going to be the real challenge for him. It’s a good team, trying to break into it is tough.”