The newly elected leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has come out in strong defense of the organization’s financial and governance record, citing a recent independent audit that confirmed the board’s fiscal stability.
Speaking on the TV6 Morning Edition, third vice-president Avinash Suruj called the audit a “strong vote of confidence” in the board’s operations.
“In the elections build-up and even within the AGM we had on Saturday, the audit that was done showed that the TTCB is in excellent financial health,” Suruj claimed.
“That was another plus for the board that came forward—another plus that came from an independent auditor. So again, it’s something that we’re starting on. This is now a starting point for us as an executive to move forward.”
The audit was presented during the TTCB’s Annual General Meeting and elections on October 25, with the findings welcomed by officials as a reset moment after a turbulent period.
Legal review exonerates board members
Beyond financials, the board faced significant reputational challenges in recent years, including allegations of financial impropriety that led to the removal of a treasurer and court action against a former employee. However, TTCB general secretary Henry Chase, who was elected unopposed and also chairs the Premier League committee, pointed to a recent legal judgment as definitive proof of the board’s innocence.
“Words such as collusion and theft have been negative, but the TTCB has been exonerated by virtue of the appellate committee headed by Court of Appeal Justice Moosai, which produced a 75-page judgment,” Chase said.
“The allegations that were made as it relates to the president, the then general secretary and first vice-president signing cheques and imputations of theft—those were totally disregarded. Moreover, as my colleague Avinash said, the independent auditors have provided a clean bill of health.”
Chase, an attorney-at-law, emphasized that his legal background would help ensure the board adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, and constitutional governance.
“If at any time I should see collusion, misappropriation, or fraud, my integrity is at stake. As an officer of the court, I have a right to speak,” Chase declared.
‘One of the better-run boards in the region’
Despite internal strife and external criticism in recent years, both Suruj and Chase defended the TTCB’s reputation in the wider cricket community, with Suruj highlighting the board’s standing across the region.
“The TTCB is one of the better-run boards in the region,” he said. “In fact, the president of Cricket West Indies was here recently for an award ceremony and mentioned that the TTCB is one of the boards he looks to for administrative guidance.”
Focus shifts to cricket development
With a new executive team now installed under TTCB president Azim Bassarath, Suruj and Chase say their attention is shifting back to the core mission—developing cricket across Trinidad and Tobago.
“We want to focus on the cricket. The elections have come and gone, and the focus right now is going to be on the field,” Suruj said.
The board’s development agenda includes revitalizing zonal and grassroots cricket, investing in player pathways, and ensuring clubs and competitions adhere to robust governance standards. Chase emphasized that organizational decisions will continue to be made within the framework of the TTCB’s constitution.
“We don’t operate by ‘vaps,’” Chase said. “We follow rules and regulations, and we ensure fair hearing and due process when accusations are made.”
New era for TTCB
With both financial and legal hurdles now seemingly behind it, the TTCB executive team sees the next four years as an opportunity to rebuild trust, restore confidence, and refocus on performance on the pitch.
The combination of an independent audit’s “clean bill of health,” a 75-page appellate ruling dismissing corruption claims, and a leadership group committed to governance reform positions the TTCB for what it hopes will be a more stable and productive term.
For Suruj, it’s about turning a difficult chapter into a springboard for progress:
“This is now a starting point for us as an executive to move forward.”
