SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
JONATHAN RAMNANSINGH
TRINIDAD and Tobago veteran Imran Khan wants the less-experienced players in his squad for next week’s Senior North/South Classic to seize the opportunity and catch the eye of the team selectors as preparations peak ahead the four-day regional Cricket West Indies Tour.
Khan is the captain of the South team; one that boasts a wealth of experience and youthful talent.
More experienced contenders like Khan, Jason Mohammed and Shannon Gabriel and joined by talented youngsters like Cephas Cooper, Navin Bidaisee, Kyle Kissondath, Jyd Goolie, Justin Manick, Shaaron Lewis, Rajeev Ramnath, Shiva Sankar and Ryan Bandoo.
This year’s North/South Classic, which starts on Thursday, is the final trial match for players aiming to be selected for the Red Force squad for the four-day tournament.
Khan wants his young generation of troops, most of whom have already started the 2023 season competing in the Namalco U-23 Cup, to perform well and give themselves a real chance to break into the Force squad Red.
Classic, he believes, can catapult them into the Red Force group.
“I was part of this match that day. I scored some runs, took some wickets and got selected (in the Red Force). This game is important, the last test match for the season, it is important that the boys, even the senior players, perform well to be selected.
“(The younger players) have been training with us for a while and this is a good opportunity for them to show their talent. We hope they use this opportunity to prove they can progress to the next level and, hopefully, it goes well for them,” he said.
North, Khan said, also boasts a number of experienced players and is captained by former West Indies player Darren Bravo.
Also among them are West Indies Test wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, Jeremy Solozano, Khary Pierre, Keagan Simmons and Terrance Hinds. Their new group includes Sion Hackett, Vikash Mohan and Mikkel Govia among others.
North will be coached by former Red Force player Rayad Emrit while South will be coached by Debideen Manick.
Khan added, “If you look at both teams, it’s probably the best group of boys in the country and the performance will have a lot to play for on the day.
“All year long, guys keep looking for this (Classic) game. It is important for both teams. At the end of the day, cricket has to win, and hopefully it will be South.”
Khan is also part of the four-day regional squad currently training with Red Force coach David Furlonge. He was also part of the TT team that won the coveted title in 2005. Since then, however, the title has continued to elude the Rossoneri.
Khan is hoping that the team’s fortunes will change this time.
“I think we are calming down. We have been training for the last two years together. It’s all about understanding your own personal game and what you need to bring to the table for the team to be successful and I think that’s a key role that the younger guys need to understand going forward,” he said.
The first two rounds of the four days involve the six territorial franchise teams bowling from February 1 to February 11 at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada and the CCG and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
After a nearly five-week break, the final three rounds will be played from March 15 to April 1 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (Tarouba), Queen’s Park Oval (St Clair) and Diego Martin Sports Complex (Diego Martin) in Trinidad . after which the champions will be crowned and presented with the Headley-Weekes Trophy – a symbol of supremacy in West Indies’ four-day first-class competition.
