Newly appointed West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) CEO Michael Muirhead was warmly welcomed by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) on Monday, with first vice-president of the TTCB Dudnath Ramkessoon assuring that the new CEO will have the full support of the local board.

Muirhead was introduced to the local media on Monday at Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain during a press conference which was also attended by TTCB director on the WICB Dr Allan Sammy, WICB corporate communications officer Imran Khan and WICB corporate secretary Verlyn Faustin.

Later on Monday, Muirhead and the other WICB officials also paid a courtesy call on TTCB president Azim Bassarath at the Alloy Lequay Administrative Building at Balmain, Couva, with both parties engaging in fruitful and courteous discussions on the local and regional game.

At Monday's press conference in Port of Spain, Ramkessoon told Muirhead: "I want to assure you that you will have the support of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

"We extend a very warm "Trini" welcome and we wish you a long, enjoyable and productive stay as CEO the WICB," he added.

The TTCB official also warned Muirhead that his job will not always be an easy one.

"We know and you will be aware that the job is not an easy one. There are tremendous responsibilities that go along with the job and the challenges will be many and they will not only be WIPA (the West Indies Players Association)," said Ramkessoon.

Ramkessoon also noted that the people of the Caribbean will be expecting a lot of Muirhead, who takes up his post at a time when hope is high among regional fans following the West Indies' triumph in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka last month.

"The expectations will be high because of the importance of cricket to the people of the Caribbean. The team is on the rise (following the World Cup win), and we expect our ranking will improve following the tour of Bangladesh," Ramkessoon said.

Of his time so far at the WICB, which is his first major involvement in cricket administration, Muirhead said: "My 20 days in the job, I would not call it a baptism but it has certainly been an introduction I will always remember and I know there is a lot of work to be done."

By Roger Seepersad

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com