debut: 2/16/17
39,503 runs
T&T Cricket Board in financial crisis
President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath, said he sees no reason for himself or any member of staff to resign after the T&T Police Service (TTPS) raided the TTCB’s office in Couva on Thursday morning.
Bassarath denied being interviewed by the TTPS in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation into the TTCB.In a response sent to Guardian Media’s Investigative Desk Saturday, Bassarath said the operations of the current board continue.“Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, it would be entirely inappropriate and irresponsible to comment further or to engage with speculative questions or unsubstantiated claims being circulated by individuals. We trust that the proper investigative processes will take their course and the facts will be made clear in due time.
Guardian Media understands, through sources close to the TTCB, that the investigation involves officials in the TTCB, the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT) and another government office.As former and current national and West Indian cricket players told Guardian Media Sports this week, the future of the region’s beloved sport is at stake in T&T.Chaitoo, a forensically trained chartered accountant, reported in the 2023 AGM that he was unable to verify how $132,313 of TTCB funds up to July 31, 2023 - originally allocated for administration, cleaning, match fees, training and development, travelling, as well as office and general expenses—had been spent.Throughout the current executive’s reign, there have been several corporate entities, including the state, that investigated or audited the TTCB after discovering misappropriations and other issues.
Board members told Guardian Media that upon this discovery, the treasurer said he began to check the financial documents for previous years and realised that more than $500,000 was unaccounted for.In a 2024 interview with Guardian Media Sports, Winston Sobers, chairman of the North Zone, described the outcome of the no-confidence motion as a travesty. That, to me, raises eyebrows and sets off red flags because how can you explain to people why you would want to remove someone who came forth with the information, instead of getting to the bottom of that, you try to get rid of the treasurer.“That, to me, could send a clear signal that the TTCB is not above board and could also send the signal that we are corrupt, and I have a serious problem with that because I’m a member of the board who represents the North Zone. I want to put it on record that I voted against the motion because I thought it was wrong and there was no basis for it,” Sobers said.
The report listed Bassarath’s number and that there were 33 voice recordings between Bassarath and former SporTT Director Imran Jan. Guardian Media can confirm it is the same number in use by the TTCB President.
“Jan appeared to have shared details regarding SporTT funding to TTCB and other national sporting bodies with Azim Bassarath and appeared to have been attempting to influence the provision of SporTT funding to TTCB. Jan appeared to be communicating his progress, or lack thereof, with seeking to solicit funding to TTCB to Bassarath.”“Jan appeared to have shared SporTT documents with Bassarath, which apparently stated how much was paid by SporTT to TTCB…It is important to note that the unauthorised dissemination of confidential SporTT information to external parties could be a breach of Section 99 of the Companies Act.”
“Jan also appeared to have solicited the assistance of former SporTT Director RM to also attempt to make funding available to TTCB.”“We also noted that in October 2017, Jan was appointed as a national cricket coach by TTCB, and text message references between Azim Bassarath and Jan appeared to suggest that this appointment was a reward for Jan’s efforts to influence funding to TTCB.”
President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath, said he sees no reason for himself or any member of staff to resign after the T&T Police Service (TTPS) raided the TTCB’s office in Couva on Thursday morning.
Bassarath denied being interviewed by the TTPS in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation into the TTCB.In a response sent to Guardian Media’s Investigative Desk Saturday, Bassarath said the operations of the current board continue.“Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, it would be entirely inappropriate and irresponsible to comment further or to engage with speculative questions or unsubstantiated claims being circulated by individuals. We trust that the proper investigative processes will take their course and the facts will be made clear in due time.
Guardian Media understands, through sources close to the TTCB, that the investigation involves officials in the TTCB, the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT) and another government office.As former and current national and West Indian cricket players told Guardian Media Sports this week, the future of the region’s beloved sport is at stake in T&T.Chaitoo, a forensically trained chartered accountant, reported in the 2023 AGM that he was unable to verify how $132,313 of TTCB funds up to July 31, 2023 - originally allocated for administration, cleaning, match fees, training and development, travelling, as well as office and general expenses—had been spent.Throughout the current executive’s reign, there have been several corporate entities, including the state, that investigated or audited the TTCB after discovering misappropriations and other issues.
Board members told Guardian Media that upon this discovery, the treasurer said he began to check the financial documents for previous years and realised that more than $500,000 was unaccounted for.In a 2024 interview with Guardian Media Sports, Winston Sobers, chairman of the North Zone, described the outcome of the no-confidence motion as a travesty. That, to me, raises eyebrows and sets off red flags because how can you explain to people why you would want to remove someone who came forth with the information, instead of getting to the bottom of that, you try to get rid of the treasurer.“That, to me, could send a clear signal that the TTCB is not above board and could also send the signal that we are corrupt, and I have a serious problem with that because I’m a member of the board who represents the North Zone. I want to put it on record that I voted against the motion because I thought it was wrong and there was no basis for it,” Sobers said.
The report listed Bassarath’s number and that there were 33 voice recordings between Bassarath and former SporTT Director Imran Jan. Guardian Media can confirm it is the same number in use by the TTCB President.
“Jan appeared to have shared details regarding SporTT funding to TTCB and other national sporting bodies with Azim Bassarath and appeared to have been attempting to influence the provision of SporTT funding to TTCB. Jan appeared to be communicating his progress, or lack thereof, with seeking to solicit funding to TTCB to Bassarath.”“Jan appeared to have shared SporTT documents with Bassarath, which apparently stated how much was paid by SporTT to TTCB…It is important to note that the unauthorised dissemination of confidential SporTT information to external parties could be a breach of Section 99 of the Companies Act.”
“Jan also appeared to have solicited the assistance of former SporTT Director RM to also attempt to make funding available to TTCB.”“We also noted that in October 2017, Jan was appointed as a national cricket coach by TTCB, and text message references between Azim Bassarath and Jan appeared to suggest that this appointment was a reward for Jan’s efforts to influence funding to TTCB.”
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