NLC wants inquiry into Narine attacks

NLC wants inquiry into Narine attacks

Published: Guardian
Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Sunil Narine...going through a difficult period.
The National League Committee (NLC) has written to the secretary of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Arjoon Ramlal calling on him to convene a meeting to set up a committee to investigate what they see as attacks on West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine by the local board.

In a letter sent by former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine yesterday, the group which includes Daren Ganga, Giles Antoine, Anil Kamal, Clint Pamphille and Andre Lawrence  has called for a meeting on Friday March 4.

The group claimed that they received a request from Narine requesting  intervention in a matter involving him, with specific reference to the president,  Azim Bassarath, and an email with Bassarath’s address which mocked Narine at a time when he needed the total support of all the TTCB’s members and stakeholders.

Following a meeting yesterday, the members are of the view that they have a  serious responsibility to ensure that the issue is fully investigated with objectivity and transparency. “Additionally, we do not wish our pursuit of the truth to be tainted by any appearance or allegations of impropriety, witch-hunting or personal vendettas. This is an extremely sensitive matter and we do not wish to impose any further emotional burden on Mr. Narine. He is going through a difficult and traumatic period in his life and career and we all need to deal with this issue with the utmost discretion and fairness.”

The members claim that they are not seeking to change the past but to ensure the right precedent is set. “Mr. Narine as well as any other player, should not be subject to what seems on the surface to be a personal attack by the President of the TTCB and other members of the TTCB Executives.”

  Narine also claimed he was denied entry to the Players’ Enclosure during the Nagico Tournament after having been allowed on two previous occasions to enter.

And attempts were made to change the rules regarding his eligibility to bowl in national tournaments organized by the TTCB. “The NLR views these matters seriously as they have the potential to bring the TTCB into disrepute, an organization which is sacrosanct in its own right having been constituted by an Act of Parliament Act No. 34 of 1989.

As elected members of the TTCB we strive to uphold the principles of good governance and measure success based on the benchmark of what is considered best practice in sport administration. In this particular matter, we must fulfill our fiduciary duty and recommend a course of action which is fair, credible, transparent and equitable to both parties. This is in keeping with request conveyed to us by Mr Narine for an independent investigation into this matter.

“In light of the above, we are seeking an opportunity to discuss a suitable list of persons or panel acceptable to all who will conduct, with our support (for both the NLR and the TTCB) an investigation of the matters raised and make pronouncements on same for the greater good of the TTCB and the sport of cricket in general. We also hope that the outcomes of said investigations will allow for any breach/es to be dealt with in accordance with the constitution of the TTCB and the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.”

www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-03-02/nlc-...quiry-narine-attacks