Million-dollar upgrades for ‘Frank Worrell’ Centre

Million-dollar upgrades for ‘Frank Worrell’ Centre
By Roger Seepersad

The Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain Couva is set to get some major upgrades over the next two months which will see the 11-year-old structure being closed for approximately eight weeks. Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath made the announcement on Friday night at the TTCB annual End of Year Get-together at the facility.

He explained that the upgrades will include the conversion of all but one of the rooms at the facility to self-contained suites as well as the complete refurbishment of the two indoor nets and other general improvements to the structure. TTCB CEO Suruj Ragoonath explained that the cost of the upgrades would be around TT$1 million which will come from the “transfer fees” T&T would have gotten from the Indian Premier League teams for the services of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo for 2012 Champions League T20.

The TTCB president also pointed out that “In the longer term we will be continuing our quest to install international standard lighting and a well-appointed public viewing area to enhance our facility.”The TTCB also has plans to re-do the outdoor nets, relay the four pitches and improve the outfield at the NCC cricket field.
Ragoonath explained that the upgrade to the outfield, which would include improved drainage, would cost approximately TT$12 million while the installation of international standard lighting would cost between TT$10-12 million. He also estimated that the construction of one major stand would cost approximately TT$40 million.

“We consider ourselves as the gateway to Pt Lisas, the most lucrative real-estate in T&T, and we will be seeking to partner with our much more fortunate industrial colleagues on the estate and elsewhere to bring this dream to fruition,” said Bassarath.