NLCB officials are remaining mum on ticket sales for the opening of the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba tomorrow, which will see a Brian Lara 11 come up against a World XI, but they say that tickets are still available at all lotto booths across the country.
Sales of tickets started at midday on Tuesday.
The Sports Company is also remaining tight lipped on the number of tickets sold to date, however, Engineer Anthony Black of SporTT said, “ticket sales have been very encouraging.”
Black added, “There has not been a sporting event over the last five years that has polarised the country like this and we want people to focus on Brian’s achievement and not on the circus that has surrounded the event thus far.”
Meanwhile, Kairon Serrette of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy said: “Lara himself feels a sense of relief, he has seen how things have gone over the years and remember his name is on the Stadium. Brian is happy we have reached this stage and is happy to be there on Friday.”
While the country and the world knows Lara is leading the local team, there is as yet no word about who will lead the International team for the gala event, for which Cabinet has already approved just under $2m.
Black said, “We have extended invitations to cricketing stars across the world and a lot of them are Brian’s contemporaries and some more recent.”
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) head said would make a statement about the players later today.
Gates for tomorrow’s game open at 3 pm and the opening starts at three hours later with live events showcasing the culture of T&T.
The evening includes a ceremonial opening of the facility by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, the Minister of Sports Darryl Smith and Brian Lara.
This will be followed by the T-20 game and will be followed by live performances by KI and Ultimate Rejects.
Black said the LOC had been working with the ODPM and other agencies and in the past week there had been a number of “test events to enable us to look at the facility and identify any defects.”
Both Black and Serrette were guests on the CNC3 Morning Brew.
