West Indies wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin will lead T&T into Saturday’s regional semifinal clash against the Windward Islands at the Queen’s Park Oval. He will take over from Rayad Emrit.
Ramdin resumes his post after representing the Caribbean team in the defence of their ICC Wortld T20 title in Bangladesh. The West Indies reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Sri Lanka.
Allrounder Akeal Hosein will also return as the Red Force go after in place in the final for a chance to lift the George Headley/Everton Weekes trophy.
Hosein was a surprise package, recording two brilliant performances against the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands in the league competition. In round two against the Windwards, Hosein took 11 wickets in the match to lead the team to a 186-run win.
Hosein proved his all-round ability in the next match, scoring his maiden first class 100 (102 not out) in T&T's victory by an innings and 107 runs. However, he suffered a leg injury and was forced to miss the next three matches. He passed a fitness test yesterday.
T&T, who finished second in the league competition to Barbados on Monday, are hoping to bring home some silverware this season. The top four teams from the league competition will play for the Headley/Weekes trophy. The T&T/Windward Islands match will bowl off on Saturday at 10 am at the Queen's Park Oval. Barbados will host Jamaica in the other semifinal at Kensington Oval, also starting on Saturday.
Ramdin was declared fully fit after suffering a thumb injury at the recently concluded Championship in Bangladesh.
T&T Cricket Board executive member Patrick Rampersad, who was at the national team's training session yesterday, is glad the duo is returning. Rampersad said he was very happy. “Ramdin is a West Indian player and Hosein did well in the last outing for his club (Queen's Park) and did well previously."
Hosein, a left-arm spinner, took 11 wickets for Queen's Park in the team's national league two-day match against Munroe Road last weekend.
Rampersad stated that T&T has been clinical at home and the team will have the edge over the Windwards. "Any game at home is considered an advantage, we have become more adaptable at home, it is a clear advantage."
Rampersad is extremely proud of the younger players this season, but wants more from the senior players.
Ramdin and Hosein will replace wicket-keeper Steven Katwaroo and right-hand batsman Jonathan Augustus.
T&T SQUAD: Denesh Ramdin (captain/Wicketkeeper), Adrian Barath, Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Jason Mohammed, Imran Khan, Rayad Emrit, Shannon Gabriel, Amit Jaggernauth, Ricky Jaipaul, Marlon Richards, Lendl Simmons, Akeal Hosein, Kelvin Williams (Coach), Manohar Ramsaran (Manager), Clinton Jeremiah (Physio/Trainer)
