Darren Bravo leads the North team into battle against the Imran Khan-led South team in the North-South Classic, which returns after a gap of four years.
The match was last staged in 2019 after a gap of nine years, but was again canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2023 match, which kicks off next Thursday, will be sponsored by the Soca Kings and will feature 22 of the best players in Trinidad and Tobago.
Bravo can call on the talents of 10 current T&T Red Force players, including Test players Joshua Da Silva and Jeremy Solozano, and West Indies all-rounder Yannic Cariah.
Tion Webster is also included after scoring a magnificent 107 and taking 2 for 19 and 4 for 30 in the last test match.
Exciting young talents Sion Hackett, Vikash Mohan and Mikkel Govia are also in the North squad for the match.
Imran Khan has the experience of former West Indies captain Jason Mohammed, as well as Tester Shannon Gabriel, and Windies white-ball opener Kjorn Ottley.
It also has former West Indies U19 players Cephas Cooper, SHiva Sankar and Jyd Goolie, West Indies A team players Bryan Charles and Shaaron Lewis, and exciting youth players Ryan Bandoo, Kyle Kissondath and Rajeev Ramnath.
The North-South Classic is also seen as a last chance for the players to impress the selectors ahead of the selection of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force squad for the 2023 West Indies Championship.
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) President Azim Bassarath spoke about the continued importance of the game.
“The rivalry that the classic fostered created great public awareness not only in the sports arena and served as a source of great pride and excitement for the winners. 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,” said Bassarath.
The match was once a first-class match and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board is campaigning to restore its status.
“Azim and I had raised the possibility of him returning to first-class status with the CWI some time ago and I think we will pursue the matter more aggressively to see if we can bring the North/South Classic back as a first-class match. seen. ”, said CWI director Arjoon Ramlal.
The coach of the North team is former T&T all-rounder Rayad Emrit, while Debideen Manick will coach the South team.
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).
