SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
TRINIDAD and Tobago open their Cricket West Indies U17 Super 50 Championship campaign against 2019 runners-up Jamaica at Inshan Ali Park, Preysal on Tuesday from 9.30am.
The unit captained by Justin Jagessar will be hoping to improve on their fourth place finish in the 2019 edition. The squad has been prepared by coach Rayad Emrit and manager Rajendra Mangalie.
Over the last few weeks, the TT team has been training at the National Cricket Center (NCC), Couva.
Although persistent rain hampered some of their outdoor preparation, the youth group used the indoor facilities and were still able to squeeze in a practice match against an U19 TT team, which they won.
The boys had their final pre-tournament training session at the cricket center on Monday and are aiming to produce a winning start.
Left-arm pacer Jacen Agard, who won the regional U15 title with TT in 2019, joins former teammates Jagessar, Andrew Rambarran and Kavir Boodoosingh among others in the chase for the U17 crown.
Agard said the mood in the camp is positive ahead of their opening Test.
“The spirit of the team is good. The coach and captain are leading from the front and everyone is comfortable. Some of the boys and I won the previous U15 tournament so we kind of know what to expect. But it is a young age group so there will be challenges,” he said.
Agard appeared in several TT Cricket Board youth series and exclusive competitions earlier this year and said he learned a lot competing against cricketers with more experience than him.
“Playing against bigger and tougher opponents, I have become more aggressive with my bowling. Playing for the TT Premier Select team under coach Amin Forgenie also played a big role in my development,” he added.
In the NCC, defending U17 champions Barbados take on Guyana while the Leeward Islands take on the Windward Islands at Gilbert Park, California. All matches take place from 9:30.
SQUAD TT U17: Justin Jagessar (captain), Luke Ali, Samir Saroop, Kavir Boodoosingh, Andrew Rambaran, Kyle Ramdoo, Orlando James, Veran Batchu, Abdullah Cambridge, Fareez Ali, Rikki Ragoonanan, Jacen Agard, Aaiden Racha, Kevin Kanhai; Rayad Emrit (coach), Rajendra Mangalie (manager)
