NCF To Construct Five Turf Wickets At TBS

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) yesterday said that it plans to build five strips of turf wickets at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval in Lagos.

NCF General Manager George Wiltshire said in a statement in Lagos that the body had called for quotations from at least three contractors for the construction process to commence.

The statement said the decision was taken at the Technical Committee meeting of the NCF on March 23, which was chaired by the First Vice-President, Yahaya Ukwenya.

“Four of the wickets are to be constructed at the centre of the oval at TBS and one at the net, while sponsors are being solicited to assist in the construction,’’ it said.

The statement said the committee also decided to upgrade the playing pitch of Jubril Martins School, Surulere, Lagos, as an alternative oval in Lagos.

“The NCF, Lagos State Cricket Association (LSCA) and the Club Cricket Committee (CCC), have decided to arrange a meeting with the management of Jubril Martins School, Surulere.

“This is with a view to upgrading the school’s grounds for use as an alternative playing cricket pitch,” it quoted Wiltshire as saying.

The statement said that other resolutions at the meeting were that a three-day development seminar be organised for state coaches.

The seminar will discuss a proposal on having a National Development Policy for the NCF, based on rules and regulations of the game, it said.

“Coaches are not paying attention to development of the sport but winning competitions.

“Consequently, the meeting resolved that a three-day development seminar be organised for state coaches to discuss the proposal on a National Development Policy for NCF.

“The meeting resolved that for future national cricket events, including the National Sports Festival, the festival guidelines and ICC rules must be enforced, especially Duck Worth Lewis (D/L) Method.

“In addition, states must be made to sign an undertaking on the good conduct of their players and officials, before the commencement of future national cricket events,” the statement said.

It said that the trial for the selection of U-19 cricketers who will participate at the World Cricket U-19 qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya in August, would commence in April.