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Modernisation of the game, rebranding, the rebuilding of trust and strengthening cricket development from the ground up. Those are the priorities of newly-elected Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) third vice president Avinash Suruj for the next four years and he said all three go hand-in-hand. Appearing on the TV6 Morning Edition alongside newly appointed general secretary Henry Chase, on Friday, Suruj said his vision is to make the TTCB more efficient, more transparent, and better equipped to nurture the next generation of national and international players. “When the president offered me the opportunity to serve, I told him I wanted to focus on two main pillars‑developing the grassroots and rebranding the TTCB,” Suruj explained. “We need to look closely at the systems and programmes within the zones because those are what feed the top. And as we move into 2026 and beyond, we must embrace a modern, digital approach. From scoring to communication, modernisation and digitisation are the way forward.” Suruj said improving zonal structures will be critical to ensuring fair and merit-based player selection across the country which again will tie into rebuilding trust with the public and stakeholders. “The zonal structure is going to be of paramount importance because they are the feeder to the top,” he said. “If we don’t get the best at the zonal level, we’re not going to get the best national team. We have to take politics out of cricket. If a player is the better player, he must be selected—that’s how we rebuild trust in the system.” He added that restoring confidence and inclusivity at all levels of the game—especially among young players and women—will be key to revitalising local cricket. “We’ve seen the women’s game grow to a different level recently, and we need to start getting young girls back out,” Suruj said. “That’s a target we can’t ignore, because women’s cricket is part of the business and the future of the sport.” Meanwhile, general secretary Henry Chase said his main goal will be to ensure that good governance, ethics, and adherence to the rule of law remain central to how the TTCB operates. “As an attorney, I intend to use my legal skills to guide the Board whenever conflicts arise,” Chase said. “The TTCB has clear constitutional provisions on governance, ethics, and management, and I will ensure that all administrative decisions are guided by those principles.” Chase, who has served in several roles within the organisation including chairman of the Premier League Committee and the Disciplinary Committee, said he also wants to strengthen understanding of the TTCB’s rules among clubs and players. “We advise clubs to know their constitution and ensure they follow proper procedure. Players, too, must understand the regulations under which they compete,” he noted. “The Board doesn’t operate by vaps‑we operate by rules, fairness, and due process.” Chase said maintaining clear, consistent selection policies would help reduce disputes and ensure transparency. “Everybody won’t always be satisfied with a selection, but when you have clear criteria and policy, you remove room for suspicion or bias,” he said. Both officials expressed optimism that, under President Azim Bassarath’s leadership, the TTCB can move beyond internal distractions and focus on cricket development and institutional renewal. “I think with the leadership of Mr Bassarath and the executive that we have, when you have us back in 2029, I’m positive that you will see a completely different TTCB going forward,” Suruj said.
