Saturday, January 10, 2009

Carib Sunday League bowls off


Defending champions Ceramic Merry Boys Sports are expected to make a winning start when they entertain Caldrac Sports Club in the Carib Sunday League Limited 50 Overs competition at CIC Grounds in Serpentine Road today. Led by discarded T&T batsman, Aneil Kanhai, the Patna-based team captured the coveted title in 2008 when they defeated W Connection Wanderers in the final at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre. According to team manager Patrick Rampersad, they intend to continue in that same vein this season.

In the official launch of tournament on Thursday, Sponsorship and Events Manager of Carib Brewery, Colin Murray revealed that prizes have been almost doubled with the winning team in the Sunday League taking home a massive $110,000, while the runner-up will pocket a handsome $70,000. Merry Boys collected $55,000 for their win last year while runners up, W Connection Wanderers received $35,000. Rampersad, a former executive member of the T&T Cricket Board, said that his club welcomes the increase in prize money.

“We welcome the increase in the prize structure. It is still a long way from where it should be, in respect to the amount of money that is being spent by clubs.” he said. “Nonetheless, it is a positive start and we really do appreciate it.” In other matches in Group A, Police Sports make a return to competitive cricket after a year’s absence and will host Munroe Road Sports at the St James Barrack.

In Group B, Wanderers will square off with Ihsan Invaders at Gilbert Park in California, while FCB Clarke Road United is expected to start on a winning note against Queen’s Park Cricket Club (2) at the Queen’s Park Oval. At Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville, Alescon Comets will start favourites against the visiting F&E Diamond United in Group C. And in Group D, Central Sports will square-off against Curepe Sports at the Presentation College Grounds in Chaguanas. Matches start at 10 am and are off 50-over per-side.

ROUND ONE FIXTURES
Sunday League 50 Overs Competition

Group A
Merry Boys v Caldrac at Diego Martin; Police Sports v Munroe Road at St James; Defence Force v Sweet Revenge at Chaguaramas; Calcutta Sports v Barataria at Calcutta.

Group B
Wanderers v Invaders at Gilbert Park; QPCC 2 v Clarke Road at Oval; Moosai’s v Valiants at Honeymoon Pk; Endeavour v Victoria at Endeavour.

Group C
Comets v Diamond United at Pierre Road; Preysal v Caroni Sav. at Preysal; Milton v Bamboo at Milton; UTT v Spoilers at O’Meara.

Group D
Central Sports v Curepe Sports at Chaguanas; PowerGen v Evergreen at Syne Village; Aranguez v QPCC 1 at Aranguez; Woodland v Couva Sports at Woodland.
Matches start at 10 am.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

T&T crickters leave for Barbados


T&T team will depart today at 6 am for Bridgetown, to take on Barbados in the opening match of the 2009 WICB Four-day Regional Tournament at the Police Sports Club Ground, starting on Friday. Led by captain Daren Ganga, the T&T team will comprise three newcomers in the 13-man squad. Former Under-19 batsman Justin Guillen has earned a call up after solid performances in the trial matches and the Stanford Super Series last year, while former West Indies Youth team off-spinner Sunil Narine and fast bowler Atiba Alert, have also been included after a series of impressive performances.

Narine sent a strong signal to selectors when he took all ten wickets in an innings in a trial match recently while Alert has been steady, bowling impressively in the annual North/South match last Wednesday. Former T&T hard-hitting allrounder and coach of the national team, Kelvin Williams is quietly confident that his charges will do well against the Bajans. Williams said that although that some of the preparations were hampered by rain, the indoor sessions were a success. “I am satisfied with the batting line-up and we have a pretty good bowling attack. We are leaning towards the spinners to do the trick for us, since the opposition is not too comfortable against spin bowling,” Williams said.

The burly Williams said that the three newcomers have earned their pick on merit and are well focused to repay the selectors confidence in them with some decent performances. “Justin Guillen has played a lot of club cricket in Barbados, Sunil Narine has bowled well in the rain affected trial matches, while fast bowler Atiba Alert is always pretty impressive with the ball. So I expect them to show their worth in the tournament,” Williams said. Manager of the team, Colin Borde said the team was bent on keeping the national flag flying high and winning the championship was number one on their agenda.

“The team is a well balanced team and a mixture of youth and experience, an experience seam attack, experience and well accomplished spinners, a talented top-order, solid middle-order but most importantly they are very focused, hungry and dedicated team led by Daren Ganga,” Borde said. He said that 2009 is going to be a long season and it will require mental toughness, physical fitness and a will to win. “Team work and consistency will be the necessary ingredients to become regional champions. We as a team understand the pride and commitment required to carry the Red, White and Black. We will do all that is neccessary to honour the flag,” Borde further stated. The team rounded off their preparations with net and physical sessions at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.

SQUAD

Daren Ganga (captain), Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Justin Guillen, Sherwin Ganga, Gibran Mohammed, Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Atiba Alert, Sunil Narine.
Manager: Colin Borde; Coach: Kelvin Williams; Trainer: Ronald Roger

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Monday, January 5, 2009

Mohammed leads T&T U23 against South Africa


Discarded T&T senior national middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed has been appointed captain of this country’s under-23 team, for the up-coming visit by the East Rhand Cricket Academy of South Africa. The young South Africans are due to arrive in Trinidad on Thursday and will play against the University of the West Indies in a 50-over contest at the Sir Frank Worrell Grounds on Saturday. East Rhand will play two two-day matches and a series of One-Dayers against the T&T Under-23 team.

Also included in the T&T Under-23 team are senior national players — opening batsman William Perkins and left-arm spinner Rishi Bachan. Mohammed, Perkins and Bachan also have represented the West Indies U-19 team. Promising 17-year-old allrounder Yannic Cariah made his debut for the North team in the just concluded Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Memorial Cricket Cup Classic against South at the Queen’s Park Oval is also named in the 14-member squad.

T&T Under-23:
Mario Belcon, William Perkins, Franklyn Rouse, Jason Mohammed (captain), Daron Cruikshank, Kervon Cooper, Anthony Balgobin, Rishi Bachan, Rishaad Harris, Shannon Gabriel, Dane Teelucksingh, Yannic Cariah, Kjorn Ottley, Visham Ramroop.

Manager: Chaitram Ranjitsingh.
Coach: Clem Hercules.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Sunday, January 4, 2009

PowerGen Sports Club annual prize giving ceremony


National all rounder Samuel Badree was voted ‘Cricketer of the Year’ at the annual prize giving ceremony of PowerGen Sports club on Friday night at their clubhouse at Syne Village in Penal.
It was the third successive year that Badree won the top award at the Penal club. During the 2008 season Badree was the top bowler at the club—taking the most wickets and also having the best bowling average. He also played some bold innings and led from the front as captain.

He took the club to the annual West Indies Players Association (WIPA) Twenty20 title and with it a whopping $1 million. Badree also enjoyed a very successful year with the T&T senior team, being part of the set up that won the Stanford Twenty20, the Stanford Champions Cup and also the WICB Cup. He was also named in the Stanford Superstars training squad. Badree just pipped left arm unorthodox spinner Dave ‘Tadpole’ Mohammed for the top prize. ‘Tadpole’ ironically topped the batting average at the club. He also did very well for T&T during the past year and was a member of the Stanford Superstars squad that defeated England in the US$20m match.

A number of members were honoured by the club on the night with Omar Khan West Indies manager getting a recognition award.
Delivering the feature address was president of the Secondary Schools Principals Association, Angela Iloo. She spoke at length on the methods of attaining success. The young members of the club were glued to her delivery as she called on them to put hard work and dedication into their every move in order to be successful.
“Don’t look at the tangibles if you want success. The tangibles come as part of the rewards for being successful. However, if you focus on that you would be distracted from the work you have to do.”

Honour roll

Penal Sports Intermediate League
Most Runs: Romano Gunness
Most Wickets: Kenrick Harribance
Best Batting Average: Elvis Ramdeo
Best Bowling Average: Silus Sookoo

Penal Sports 20/20
Most Runs: Elvis Ramdeo
Best Batting Average: Romano Gunness
Most Wickets: Amin Forgenie
Best Bowling Average: Amin Forgenie
Most Outstanding Fieldsman: Dushan Ramdeo

Penal Sports U-16
Most Runs: Rickson Maniran
Best Batting Average: Amit Badree
Centurion: Amit Badree
Most Wickets: Kevin Rawlings
Best Bowling Average: Akash Ramjitsingh

National League U-21
Most Runs: Jason Mohammed
Best Batting Average: Evin Lewis
Centurion Jason Mohammed
Most Wickets: Darron Beekah
Best Bowling Average: Darron Beekah

5 Youth Cricketers of the Year (U-15)
Chris Mohammed
Kevin Rawlings
Siddiq Ambrally
Jason Bhola
Jyd Goolie

Youth Cricketer of the Year: Chris Mohammed

National Division One Reserve League

Most Runs: Raul Aimey
Best Batting Average: Raul Aimey
Centurion: Raul Aimey
Most Wickets: Jeremy Cambridge
Best Bowling Average: Jason Bhola
Reserve League 40 Overs
Most Runs: Nicholas Sookdeosingh
Best Batting Average: Rickson Maniram
Centurion: Azurrdin Mohammed
Most Wickets: Morrel Jugmohan
Best Bowling Average: Visham Ramroop

Carib Sunday League
Most Runs: Sherwin Ganga
Best Batting Average: Samuel Badree
Most Wickets: Farrel Jugmohan
Best Bowling Average: Farrel Jugmohan

Carib National League
Most Runs: Gibran Mohammed
Best Batting Average: Gibran Mohammed
Most Wickets: Brent Harriot and Farrel Jugmohan
Best Bowling Average: Brent Harriot

WIPA 20/20 Champs
Special Awards:
T&T U-13
Jyd Golie

T&T U-14
Chris Mohammed

T&T U-17
Rickson Maniram
Darron Beekah
V Rampersad

T&t U-19
Evin Lewis
Rickson Maniram
Darron Beekah

T&T Senior Team
Samuel Badree
Jason Mohammed
Dave Mohammed
Gibran Mohammed
Serwin Ganga
Rishi Bachan

WI Team
Dave Mohammed
David Williams
Omar Khan

Ten Years Service
Errol mohess
Krishendath Persad
Samuel Badree

Outstanding Service Towards Club
Reynold Ramnarinsingh

Recognition of Support
John Cozoe
John Bahl
T&T Blind Cricket Team

Powergen Sports Club Table Tennis (National Table Tennis Team)
Arun Roopnarine
Catherine Spicer
Vimal Roopnarine
Amresh Mungal
Bob Roopnarine

National League One
Most Runs: Samuel Badree
Best Batting Average: Dave Mohammed
Centurion: Samuel Badree
Most Wickets: Samuel Badree
Best Bowling Average: Samuel Badree

Five Senior Cricketers of the Year
Samuel Badree
Dave Mohammed
Sherwin Ganga
Farrel Jugmohan
Raul Aimey

Cricketer of the Year: Samuel Badree

Vinode Mamchan
Trinidad Guardian

Friday, January 2, 2009

QPCC issues an apology to Persaud


The Queen’s Park Cricket Club has disassociated itself with remarks alleged to have been made by former West Indies Test opening batsman Bryan Davis, in another daily newspaper, concerning the CEO and General Secretary of the T&T Cricket Board, Forbes Persaud. And as such, the QPCC, through its acting President, William Lucie-Smith has issued an apology to Persaud and by extension, the T&TCB.

“As you may know Bryan (Davis) is currently employed with QPCC on a contract as a Cricket Administrator, but his comments are most certainly not the views of QPCC nor is he authorised to speak on behalf of QPCC. Nevertheless, Bryan is a long-time stalwart of Trinidad cricket and the press do seek out his views,” Lucie-Smith said. Lucie-Smith added that he had spoken to Davis about the article which was based on a telephone interview and his intention was to praise the performance of Dudnath Ramkessoon and not to denigrate Persaud or the T&TCB.

“He (Davis) did not claim any association with QPCC. Unfortunately it did not come across like that. QPCC is associated with a number of very knowledgeable cricketers and former selectors and we can neither gag them nor vet their comments. However, we deeply regret this incident and assure you that the views expressed are not ours,” Lucie-Smith added. Lucie-Smith said QPCC agree that Ramkessoon was an excellent and successful chairman of selectors. However, the recent success of T&T cricket is in no small part due to the continued excellent and sustained leadership by the TTCB including its and chairman Deryck Murray.

“The TTCB have been and remain exemplars in the field of sport administration and QPCC cherishes the excellent relationship that exists with the TTCB,” Lucie-Smith said. He congratulated Persaud on the professional manner in which he ignored the article at the launch of the Gerry Gomez Classic and assured him of the club’s continued support at all times. Contacted yesterday, Davis stressed that the issue of the removal of Ramkessoon as chairman of the National senior selectors were not addressed by persons interviewed in a recent article in the Trinidad Guardian. “ Why did they remove Ramkessoon — a man of good experience, when good administrators are hard to find,” Davis said.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Bidhesi - Team will do well


Former T&T middle-order batsman Narine Bidhesi and newly appointed chairman of the senior selection panel is quietly confident that the national cricket team will do well in the upcoming regional four-day tournament. Bidhesi headed the three-member panel will also included two former national players — Claude Phillip and Alec Burns. Three newcomers have been included in a 13-man Trinidad & Tobago squad for the opening match of the regional four-day tournament against Barbados, starting next week in Bridgetown.

Former Under-19 batsman Justin Guillen has earned a call up after a tremendous showing in the trial matches and the Stanford Super Series last year, while former West Indies Youth team off-spinner Sunil Narine and fast bowler Atiba Alert, have also been included after a series of impressive performances. Narine sent a strong signal to selectors when he took all ten wickets in an innings in a trial match recently while Alert has been steady, bowling impressively in the annual North/South match on Wednesday.

“The team is a mixture of youth and experience. The opportunity was there for the younger players to show their worth as the West Indies cricketers are on international duty, also two of the team’s key players — Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul are on the injured list. We expect the team to do well, especially that several players are looking for a recall on the West Indies team, including skipper Daren Ganga, batsman Lendl Simmons and spinners Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth,” Bidhesi said.
Bidhesi admitted that it was a tough decision to leave out talented allrounder Imran Khan from the squad of 13 but said that is a long season and his chance will surely come.

Khan performed well in the annual North/South Gerry Gomez Classic, scoring 96 runs in South’s second innings. “ It was a tough decision to leave out Imran (Khan) but at the end of the day, opportunities will be there for him and others , since it is a long season. Also Amit Jaggernauth has a niggle on his right-arm and that it is a slight concern for us,” Bidhesi added.
The team will train at the Oval today, tomorrow and Sunday. They will for Barbados on Tuesday.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Queen's Park coaching clinic bowls off


The highly successful Queen’s Park Cricket Club Coaching Clinic will bowl off tomorrow at the Oval, starting at 8.30 am. Founded in 1956 by the late Noel Guillen, several national and regional players started their career at the clinic. Former T&T and West Indies opening batsman Bryan Davis took over in charge of the clinic in 1972 and since then many talented players have emerged including Darren Bravo, Justin Guillen, Imran and Asif Jan and Ricardo Paty.

Tomorrow from 9.30 am to 10.30 am the 10-13 age group will take centre stage. The four-six age group will be in action from 9.30 am to 10.30 am. On Sunday, the seven to nine age group will undergo training from 8.30 am -9.30 am, while the age group 14-16 will show off their skills from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. For more information, please contact the Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Thursday, January 1, 2009

North retains Classic Cup


Defending champions North retained the Pizza Hut/QPCC Gerry Gomez Classic Cricket Cup, when they were held to a draw on the final day of the four-day contest, yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval. Set 261 runs for victory off a minimum of 77 overs by the North team, South reached 194 for five when the match was called off with 6.5 overs remaining. Leading the fight for the South team was impressive opening batsman Imran Khan who scored a resolute 96. Khan was the fifth to be dismissed, caught at short-leg by North’s skipper Rayad Emrit off Navin Stewart’s bowling.

He batted for 314 minutes, faced 217 balls and struck five fours. Khan caught the eyes of the many spectators with an outstanding all-round performance but failed in his effort to catch the eyes of the selectors. 0Despite having a match-haul of three wickets for ten runs and scoring a tally of 103 runs in the 12th edition of the Classic, Khan’s tremendous showing was not enough to impress the national selectors, headed by former national batsman Narine Bidhesi, for the opening match in the Regional Four-Day tournament next week against Barbados in Bridgetown. Former national players Alec Burns and Claude Phillip were also part of the panel.

Khan who made his senior team in 2006 and has played seven matches in the regional tournament since, said that although he is disappointed at not being selected on the squad he will continue to remain focused in a bid to cement a place on the T&T team for the remainder of the regional tournament. “I am happy with my performance in the Classic. I played my heart out for my team. I will continue to train hard. I am well focused on the task ahead.” Earlier, North resumed on 84 for seven and were dismissed for 125. Discarded West Indies leg-spinner Dave Mohammed was the leading bowler with four for 45 and was well supported by Khan who bagged two for seven from eight overs with his leg-spinners.

In pursuit of their target, South lost Adrian Barath (9) with the score on 20 and went to lunch on 34 for one, with Khan on 14 and skipper Daren Ganga three. After the break, South lost two further wickets in Daren Ganga (17) and Jason Mohammed (3) and went to the tea interval on 99 for three. On the resumption, Khan added 47 with Sherwin Ganga (31) for the fourth wicket and 62 with Gibran Mohammed (23 not out) to guide his team to safety. Off-spinner Sunil Narine was leading bowler with two for 53. North’s impressive batsman Darren Bravo was named “Man of the Match” by former International umpire Clyde Cumberbatch.

HONOUR ROLL

Best Batsman - Darren Bravo.
Best Bowler - Rayad Emrit.
Best Fieldsman - Kervon Cooper.
Century - Darren Bravo.
MVP (North) - Darren Bravo
MVP (South) - Imran Khan.
Man of Match - Darren Bravo.

TEAMS

T&T Senior national: Daren Ganga (captain), Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Justin Guillen, Sherwin Ganga, Gibran Mohammed, Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Atiba Alert, Sunil Narine. Manager: Colin Borde. Coach: Kelvin Williams. Trainer: Ronald Rogers.

T&T Under-23: Mario Belcon, William Perkins, Franklyn Rouse, Jason Mohammed (captain), Daron Cruikshank, Kervon Cooper, Anthony Balgobin, Rishi Bachan, Rishaad Harris, Shannon Gabriel, Dane Teelucksingh, Yannic Cariah, Kjorn Ottley, Visham Ramroop. Manager: Chaitram Ranjitsingh. Coach: Clem Hercules.


Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian

Three newcomers in T&T squad


Three newcomers have been included in a 13-man T&T squad for the opening match of the Regional Four-day tournament, against Barbados, from January 9-12 at the Police Grounds in Bridgetown. Former T&T Under-19 batsman Justin Guillen has earned a call up after a tremendous showing in the trial matches and the Stanford 20/20 Super Series earlier this year.

Also named in the squad are former West Indies youth off-spinner Sunil Narine and W Connection fast bowler Atiba Alert. The team will be led by inspirational captain Darren Ganga and include experience players Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Rayad Emrit. West Indies spinners Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth are also part of the team.

Meanwhile, former West Indies U-19 vice-captain Jason Mohammed has been appointed to lead a T&T Under-23 team against the East Rhand Cricket Academy of South Africa. The South Africa U-23 team is due to tour the country from January 9-24 for a series of matches.

Several promising players are named in the 14-man squad including spinner Rishi Bachan, opening batsman William Perkins and all-rounder Yannic Cariah.

Naz Yacoob
Trinidad Guardian