Brian Lara delivered a blow to the West Indies Cricket Board yesterday, during the official opening of the Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre. In his speech, Lara added that teamwork, integrity and use of technology missed the West Indies Cricket Board.
Lara, who celebrated his 38th birthday on May 2, surprised many by announcing his retirement from the game at the end of the West Indies final Super Eight match against England in the recently concluded 2007 World Cup.Many speculated that Lara was pushed out of the team by a combination of factors. His statement suggests there was still some underlying tension between the double world record holder and the West Indies Cricket Board.
The Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre is the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth Caribbean. It boasts the best technology in cancer treatment, including linear accelerators, three dimensional treatment planning and high precision targeted intensity modulation radiation therapy.
Its staff consists of qualified medical oncologists, physicians, medical physicists, radiation therapists and nurses, all of whom have been trained in the United States, United Kingdom or Canada.
The center, a project of Medcorp Ltd, uses equipment provided by Varian Medical Systems, a leading manufacturer in integrated cancer therapy systems. Atomic International provided the building material for the bunkers which house the linear accelerator equipment.
