SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has congratulated the West Indies T20 International team for their recent 3-2 win over England on Sunday.
TTCB president Azim Bassarath said the result was a welcome boost for the regional side and bodes well for the team ahead of their upcoming One Day International and T20I series in India from February 6.
A TTCB statement released on Monday said Bassarath lauded the leadership of team captain Kieron Pollard, who he said continues to lead by example and is an inspiration to his team to overcome the odds.
On Sunday, West Indies clinched a 3-2 victory in the T20I series by producing a thrilling 17-run victory over England at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
West Indies were taken home thanks to a last-ditch beaver trick from paceman Jason Holder (5/27) and a series of all-round performances from Akeal Hosein (4/30), Pollard (41 runs off 25 balls), Rovman Powell (35 of 17), Brandon King (34 of 31) and Kyle Mayers (31 of 19).
The TTCB president also praised the consistent performances of the TT players; West Indies vice-captain/wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran and bowler Akeal Hosein.
“The performance of the TT players is a testament to the strong foundation that has been laid from which many cricketers have managed to establish themselves among the best in the world,” said Bassarath.
He noted that the Caribbean cricketers, despite being the lowest-ranked team among Test nations in the shortest format of the game, dethroned England, who top the International Cricket Council (ICC) ratings.
The top domestic cricket official also singled out the outstanding contribution to the series win from Jason Holder, whose beaver trick in Sunday’s final match ended with a sensational all-round performance in which he took 15 wickets in the series.
He also echoed what Pollard said in his post-match interview that the win was a team effort and every member of the squad contributed in some way which bodes well for the future.
“I am optimistic that the West Indies will maintain the momentum built up in the series against England as they travel to the subcontinent for three T20s and three ODIs. So we can look forward to some exciting cricket in the coming weeks,” Bassarath said.
Next up for West Indies is a three-match ODI (Ahmedabad) and T20I (Kolkota) series against hosts India starting on February 6.
After that, England return to the Caribbean for a three-Test series starting from March 8 to 28 in Antigua, Barbados and Grenada respectively.
