Former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine was voted out as a national league club representative on Thursday night at the elections held at the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) offices in Balmain, Couva.
Ramnarine who has been a club representative over the last two terms was ousted as well as former T&T captain Darren Ganga. Administrator Sebastien Edwards won the most votes on the night collecting 28, followed by Shareda Mohammed who got 26 and Frank Simmons 24.
The duo along with long-serving administrator Anil Kamal was ousted by club representatives of the three highest levels of local cricket, namely Premiership 1 and 2.
The new National League representatives and their winning tally were Sebastian Edwards (28), Shareda Mohammed (26), Frank Simmons (24), Amin Forgenie (23), Kiswah Chaitoo (23) and Richard Ramkissoon (23).
They replaced the outgoing representatives led by Ramnarine (17), Ganga (17), Anil Kamal (22), Camal Basdeo (deceased), while Clint Pamphille and Samuel Badree did not stand for re-election.
The Ramnarine/Ganga tandem which has been waging a relentless campaign to remove the administration of president Azim Bassarath was dealt a double-blow when their slate also suffered a crushing defeat in Central Zone elections.
A team led by Anderson Ramdat, an executive member of the TTCB received a resounding vote of confidence at the elections held at the Montrose Government Primary School in Lange Park, Chaguanas.
Ramdath collected 22 votes will be joined by a vibrant and enthusiastic group comprising Avinash Suruj who got 21 votes, Jason Lackhansingh (20), Selvon Miguel (20), Ravi Mahase (19) and Vyash Nandlal (34).
It is understood that Ramnarine and Avidesh Samaroo, another former national cricketer, were also listed to contest the election but withdrew at the last moment as their slate failed to make an impression.
Among those who were rejected on Thursday were Keith Joseph (13), Anand Kallipersad (15), Ryan Forrester (14), Hadeed Ali (16) and Navin Chatoor (14).
On Friday, president of the TTCB, Bassarath said he was pleased with the outcome of the elections and despite the challenges he has faced from Ramnarine and Ganga over the years, thanked them both for their contribution as National League representatives.
He said, "I want to thank Dinanath Ramnarine for the work he has done in serving T&T's cricket, also Darren Ganga and the rest of the guys who are not returning. We at the TTCB will continue to fight to take this country's cricket forward and we are seeing movements in the right direction."
Ramdath said the new representatives of the Central Zone along with other officials from stakeholder organizations will now set about selecting a new executive at their annual general meeting (AGM) at a date to be fixed and he was confident a new course will be put in place for the smooth running of their cricket affairs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS
Sebastien Edwards - 28
Shareda Mohammed - 26
Frank Simmons - 24
Richard Ramkissoon - 23
Amin Forgenie - 23
Kiswah Chaitoo - 23
Those not getting on were Anil Kamal (22), Brent Guissippi (22), Rajendra Mangallie (20), Nayran Roodal (18), Daren Ganga (17) and Dinanath Ramnarine (17).