00:00When Team Red Force hammered Guyana by 141 runs in the Western East Championship final in Antigua,
00:07it was Trinidad and Tobago's first regional four-day title in two decades.
00:11The following day, TNT's players returned home to a hero's welcome
00:15with a small reception being held for them at the Piacco International Airport.
00:19For winning the title, TTCB president Azim Basrath felt Team Red Force deserved a national award
00:25regardless of the color of the medal.
00:27However, cricket analyst Fazir Mohamed begs to differ, saying playing for the country is a reward in itself.
00:34What does it say about a nation that is so preoccupied with national award than national representation?
00:44Is it not enough to represent your country?
00:49Is it not enough of an honor in itself to represent your country?
00:54While some may disagree with Mohamed, the TNT-based analyst is unfazed by it all.
00:59He uses the example of the most-watched sporting event in the world to justify his point.
01:05If representing your country, as we're seeing now with the Football World Cup,
01:09and players who are multi-millionaires straining every sinew to represent their country,
01:15if representing the country eventually boils down to what I go get, and what I go give me,
01:22and what they deserve, and who do deserve what,
01:25then we are merely devaluing representing Trinidad and Tobago.
01:29And this is not something new.
01:31This has been going on for years, for decades.
01:34It transcends sport. It goes to different sports.
01:37Last year, Trinbago Knight Riders were recipients of the Shakonia Gold for winning their fifth CPL title,
01:44that being the most by any franchise.
01:46Even though Basrath had no issues with TKR receiving the award,
01:50he said the team included foreigners,
01:52whereas Team Red Force was made up of TNT Nationals.
01:55While some may be pleased with TKR being rewarded,
01:58it's no surprise Mohamed sees it differently.
02:01That the national awards are merely political opportunism.
02:06That's why TKR got the award,
02:08because it was so close to the independence period,
02:10and they won the title as they had done previously.
02:14So let's not fool ourselves.
02:16We can delude ourselves.
02:17We can continue to believe that this is something that is paramount and relevant.
02:23TNT Red Force have the most titles in the limited overs version,
02:27the regional superfifter to be precise,
02:28but never was there a call for a national award for that accomplishment.
02:33Vinod, now on ETV's export.
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