Contrary to game’s reputation, often a news containing the darker side of cricket pops up and hampers its image. This time, the focus has been brought down to an alleged sexual assault case on a player by the team coach itself.
An U-19 Trinidad & Tobago opening batsman has filed a case against his team coach Tarandath Sammy, who has allegedly abused the batsman sexually during the regional U-19 three-day tournament early in November. Though the news was brought into public domain after the completion of the tournament and was reported by Caribbean News Now.
Much to everyone’s shock, the matter reported to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, the West Indies Cricket Board, the Child Protection Unit in Trinidad hasn’t kept on the prior check list and appears to have taken it lightly.
As per various reports filed, the coach is believed to have invited the opening batsman into his room for a massage to ease an injury he sustained during the three-day tournament, and during the course of the massage, made sexual advances to the player.
The caller who broke the news said the matter has been brought to the attention of Kerwin John, manager of the U-19 team who is also the President of the Tobago Cricket Association. Kervin is said to have forwarded the matter to Azim Bassarath, President of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board but no action has been taken so far.
The allegations charged were confirmed by the parents of the boy, who mentioned there has been a considerable drop in the team’s morale as well as a source close to victim.
Earlier, the matter was drawn to the attention of the West Indies Cricket Board. A representative of the board responded on the same saying immediate action cannot be taken without any investigation.
“We got word of this but the WICB cannot at this time take any action to sanction the coach. He was a member of a team representing Trinidad and Tobago in a WICB sanctioned tournament, and no official report has been sent to us.”