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gregory mcburnie
The architectural drawings of the Mumbai Indians Cricket Academy to be built in TT have already been conceptualized.
The prime minister first announced a few weeks ago that a team owned by India's Ambani family had approached the government for talks to build a cricket academy in TT.
Dr. Lowery said a 30-acre parcel of land along Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, across from Trincity Mall, has been made available for construction of the academy.
After returning from a trip to India, Rowley told the media on Sunday that he toured the academy in Mumbai and was happy with what he saw there.
“I was out with Akash Ambani and he literally took me around three fields in Mumbai. I was taken to see what they had done with the academy. They have an academy there, and this is what we're conceptualizing here. It's not on the same scale, but it's the same concept.”
Lowry said he doesn't yet know how much the academy will cost, but preparations for the project are progressing.
“An architect was sent here when initial discussions took place a few weeks ago. The cost will only be determined once we have the architectural renderings and cost calculations based on that (but ) are close to being able to provide us with the first set of drawings they plan to pursue.”
He said immediate discussions were focused on sorting out the necessary documentation so that the land could be made available soon.
“Right now, we're finalizing a land lease here in Trinidad. There's a small cabinet subcommittee that's dealing with that. I think the investigation is either ongoing or completed.”
He said that while critics may question the decision, he believes TT has a role to play in elevating West Indies cricket and the academy can help do that.
“We don't play enough cricket. We don't have enough facilities. We're not modernized, we're not technically sound. All that stuff costs money. And… These demands occur at that scale within that game.
“Therefore, a TT economy funded by Indian investors that produces TT cricketers is not only in our interest, but could be an important piece of the jigsaw in West Indies cricket Because the whole idea is to give young people an opportunity to develop their talent within the system that we have, to develop that talent and to be able to utilize that talent.”
Mr Rowley pointed out that cricket was now a multi-billion dollar industry and said it wouldn't be a bad thing for TT to be a part of it.
“Cricket today offers opportunities that didn't exist before. Cricket today is a multi-billion dollar business and it's an area where we have strength and we can leverage that to our advantage. We need to be part of this international business.”
He said the game needed nurseries to develop players into many professional leagues around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England and India.
He added that providing players to these leagues would benefit West Indies cricket.
“We want to be part of this multi-billion dollar industry and will ensure TT plays its part in supporting, strengthening and growing West Indies cricket.
