The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board 2023 domestic season begins today with the Namalco U-23 Cup.
Four teams will be involved in three rounds of matches at the National Cricket Center (NCC) in Balmain, Couva and the nearby Inshan Ali Ground in Preysal, with the final scheduled for January 7 at the NCC. The matches are 50 overs per team and take place at 9:30 am
The teams will be led by four talented youngsters identified by the TTCB selectors as having a major role to play in the future success of the senior national team. They are 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 having 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 Covid-19 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 Limited who again offered to display 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 efforts of TTCB to provide the platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent.
Ali 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 bright optimism for the upcoming season was TTCB Establishment Committee chairman Ismahieel Ali who also thanked Namalco for joining the push to bring out the U-23 players.
“After the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions, the TTCB did not have the space in their cricket calendar to implement all the development programs that the Marketing Committee was interested in and working on,” said Ali.
“We are extremely pleased to be involved in this excellent initiative to further develop the young talent that Trinidad and Tobago has in abundance. We look forward to working closely with the TTCB Executive to ensure we do more for our young people,” said Ali.
The teams
Masqueraders: Joshua James (Captain), Leon Bassano, Giovanni Letren, Nicholas Elliot, Gerald Chin (Wkp), Chadeon Raymond, Mikkel Govia, Joshua Yorke, Ezekiel Joefield, Daniel Osouna, Shiva McCoon, Joshua Dookie, Eric Garcia, Jean . Lyndon Ramanan (Manager), Nisar Mohanned (Coach).
Hummingbirds: Cephas Cooper (Captain), Tariq Mohammed, Navin Bidaisee, Antonio Gomez (Wkp), Damion Joachim, Aaron Nanan, Nicholas Ali, Kyle Roopchand, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Jevon George, Vanir Maharaj, Mbeki Joseph, Justyn Gangoo, Chris Stephen Ramkisson (Manager)
Amin Forgenie (Coach)
FLAMINGOS: Matthew Patrick (Captain), 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. Frank Simmons (Manager), Gibran Mohammed (Coach).
SCARLET IBIS: Kirstan Kallicharan (captain), Leonardo Julien, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Sachin Seecharan, Nathaniel McDavid, Sachin Soodeen, Leonardo Francis, Ronaldo Forester, Zion Hackett, Andy Mahase, Giovanni Ramdenny, Anderson Mohamed A, Shaza. Malcolm Ramlogan (Manager), Bhoodesh Dookie (Coach).
