The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba is lined up for its second taste of top-flight T20 international cricket in 2023. That comes with Asia’s powerhouse India confirming their arrival in the region for a multi-format series.
After the scheduled break for the 2023 IPL, India are scheduled to visit the Caribbean in July to play a full tour of two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20Is.
CWI is yet to decide on the schedule or final venues for these matches but TTCB president Asim Bassarat is hopeful that Trinidad will be chosen as the host country for part of the tour.
The Tarouba facility hosted its first T20I in July this year by welcoming India for the first match of a five-match series. However, India managed to win the series 4-1. In addition, on the same tour, Port of Spain also hosted three ODIs at the Queen’s Park Oval, where the visitors won the series 3–0.
CWI hasn’t decided as yet where those matches will be played but definitely, and traditionally, TT has been hosting India whenever they come.
Bassarath is optimistic that TT will be considered for the tour and hopes that fellow regional member Guyana, who pulled out of this year’s tour of India, will also get a chance.
“We are hoping that we are going to get some of that and also, we are hoping that Guyana will be given the opportunity to host part of the Indian tour.”
“If T20s are awarded to Trinidad, definitely it will be played at the Brian Lara stadium. Right now, we can’t say for 2023 if any ODIs will be played but if any T20s are awarded to Trinidad, that will be the venue.”
He further said that they are working to make the Brian Lara International Stadium a one-day event.
“We are aiming to get ODI status at the Lara stadium but that’s a work in progress.”
The regional team is set to open 2023 with a tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa under the guidance of interim head coach Andre Coley.