SPORTS
Newsday reporter
Officials of the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) are anticipating an exciting upcoming season of activities that will conclude on Wednesday with the Namalco U-23 Cup.
Four teams will be involved in three rounds of matches at the National Cricket Center (NCC) ground in Balmain.
The Inshan Ali Ground in Preysal will also host matches with the final scheduled for January 7 at the KKK.
The matches are 50 overs per side and bowl at 9:30 am.
The teams will be led by four cricketers identified by the TTCB selectors as having a major role to play in the future success of the senior national team.
They are Tobagonian Joshua James (Masqueraders), Cephas Cooper (Hummingbirds), Matthew Patrick (Flamingos) and Kristan Kallicharan (Scarlet Ibis).
At the final launch of the competition, TTCB president Azim Bassarath emphasized the importance of keeping the U-23s in the national squad.
He described the group of cricketers as extremely talented with a lot to offer and who first engaged in a national TTCB competition in 2019, before Covid19 stopped the sport from being played for nearly 24 months.
“It is an idea that the TTCB has been promoting for some time now to tap into the latent skills of cricketers who for one reason or the other do not get the chance to take center stage. And we are pleased to see that at the Cricket West Indies level attention is also being paid in this direction after the initial success of the TTCB,” said Bassarath.
He was unequivocal in his praise for Namalco Construction Services Ltd for providing the replay to showcase their corporate responsibility for the national game with their $120,000 sponsorship.
Nalamco Director Alisha Ali said in her launch that she was happy with the TTCB’s efforts to provide the platform for young cricketers to showcase their undoubted talent.
Alisha said she realized that the U-23 age group was a missing age group in the national and regional development program and Namalco was happy to be the title sponsor for the four-team competition.
She said she was looking forward to some exciting matches and great individual performances, which will surely point the way to a very successful TTCB 2023 season.
Also expressing optimism for the upcoming season was TTCB marketing committee chairman Ismahieel Ali who also thanked Namalco for joining the push to bring out the U-23 players.
“After the lifting of Covid19 restrictions, the TTCB did not have the space in their cricket calendar to implement all the development programs that the marketing committee is interested in and working on,” said Ismahieel.
“We are extremely pleased to be involved in this excellent initiative to further develop the young talent that TT has in abundance. We look forward to working closely with the TTCB executive to ensure we do more for our youth,” said Ali.
OVERVIEW
ROUND I – Wednesday
Hummingbirds vs Scarlet Ibis (National Cricket Centre)
Flamingo vs Masqueraders (Inshan Ali Ground)
SECOND ROUND – Friday
Scarlet Ibis vs Flamingos (National Cricket Centre)
Hummingbirds vs Masqueraders (Inshan Ali Ground)
THIRD ROUND – January 4
Scarlet Ibis vs Masqueraders (National Cricket Centre)
Flamingos vs Hummingbirds (Inshan Ali Ground)
FINAL – January 7
1st Place vs 2nd Place (National Cricket Centre)
The teams
MASQUERADERS: Joshua James (captain), Leon Bassano, Giovanni Letren, Nicholas Elliot, Gerald Chin (goalkeeper), Chadeon Raymond, Mikkel Govia, Joshua Yorke, Ezekiel Joefield, Daniel Osouna, Shiva McCoon, Joshua Garcia Dookie, E. , Lyndon Ramanan (manager), Nisar Mohanned (coach)
Hummingbirds: Cephas Cooper (captain), Tariq Mohammed, Navin Bidaisee, Antonio Gomez (goalkeeper), Damion Joachim, Aaron Nanan, Nicholas Ali, Kyle Roopchand, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Jevon George, Vanir Maharaj, Mbeki Joseph, Chustyn Gangoo Stephen Ramkisson (manager) ), Amin Forgenie (coach)
FLAMINGOS: Matthew Patrick (capt), Denzil Antoine, Daniel Ramsawak, Isaiah Ali, Aaron Bankay, Rahul Pitiram, Shiva Sankar, Justin Manick, Sameer Ali, Ryan Bandoo, Lemuel Matthews, Amrit Dass, Crystian Thurton, Kieron John (manager). Gibran Mohammed (coach)
SCARLET IBIS: Kirstan Kallicharan (captain), Leonardo Julien, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Sachin Seecharan, Nathaniel McDavid, Sachin Soodeen, Leonardo Francis, Ronaldo Forester, Sion Hackett, Andy Mahase, Giovanni Ramdenny, Anderson Mohamed Malacolm, Shaza (manager), Bhoodesh Dookie (coach)
