The North/South Classic will return to the local cricket calendar in 2023 and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is working towards returning the annual game to its former glory.
The 2023 North/South Classic, now sponsored by Soca Kings, will kick off next Thursday at the National Cricket Center (NCC) and will be a four-day fixture featuring the country’s best cricketers.
Middle-order batsman Darren Bravo will captain the North side, while leg-spinner Imran Khan will lead the South side.
The squad lists were revealed yesterday at a media conference at the NCC in Balmain Couva, with TTCB president Azim Bassarath and first vice-president Arjoon Ramlal both stressing the fixture’s past importance and pledging to remain committed to Cricket West Indies (CWI) restore it to first class status.
The “Classic” returned in 2019 after a nine-year absence, however the Covid-19 pandemic left the game until now.
“The rivalry that the classic fostered created great public awareness not only in the sporting arena and served as a source of great pride and joy for the winners,” said Bassarath. Of particular importance to the cricketers in each team was the opportunity to address the national selectors for the last time on the eve of the inter-territorial tour.”
On the match’s first-class status, Bassarath said: “We hope at TTCB that we can once again elevate the annual match to its former high status and make the North/South Classic regain its glory and honour. lost to the virtue of the performance of the current cricketers.”
“We expect this year’s North/South Senior Classic to throw up some surprises and create headaches for the national team selectors led by Red Force coach David Furlonge. It will also give us a glimpse into the future of local cricket and Trinidad and Tobago’s chances of finishing top of the table in this year’s regional tournament to be played at home,” concluded Bassarath.
Meanwhile, Ramlal, who, along with Bassarath, is a director of CWI, said: “Azim and I had raised the possibility of him returning to first-class status with CWI some time ago and I suppose we will pursue it in more aggressively on this issue. See if we can bring the North/South Classic back as a first-class match.”
Soca Kings representative Dale Baboolal said the game, “is a vital part of the future of cricket in Trinidad and Tobago”. He believes the match will encourage more competition among upcoming national players, which will help them raise their game.
The Soca Kings sponsorship for the match is $100,000.
NORTH/SOUTH CLASSIC TEAMS
NORTH: Darren Bravo (captain), Keagan Simmons, Jeremy Solozano, Isaiah Rajah, Amir Jangoo, Yannic Cariah, Tion Webster, Terrance Hinds, Uthman Muhammad, Khary Pierre, Mikkel Govia, Joshua Da Silva, Vikash Mohan, Sion Hackett. Rayad Emrit (Coach), Nissar Mohammed (Assistant Coach), Ishmieel Ali (Manager).
SOUTH: Imran Khan (Captain), Cephas Cooper, Kjorn Ottley, Navin Bidaisee, Kyle Kissondath, Jason Mohammed, Jyd Goolie, Bryan Charles, Justin Manick, Shaaron Lewis, Shannon Gabriel, Rajeev Ramnath, Shiva Sankar, Ryan. Debideen Manick (Coach), Rydell Ramsaran (Assistant Coach), Stephen Ramkissoon (Manager).
– Roger Seepersad
