TTCB – News

Question mark over injured Ganga
January 29, 2011

TRINDAD and Tobago cricket team captain Daren Ganga will be included in a 14-man squad for the first regional match of the 2011 cricket season next week but will only be passed fit to play on Tuesday after a visit to his doctor.

The National Selectors met two days ago (Friday) and picked the squad for the match against Barbados starting on Friday at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre but the question mark remains on the availability of the team’s captain.

On Saturday, Dudnath Ramkessoon, first vice-president of the T&T Cricket Board and Chairman of the National Selectors confirmed that Ganga, 30, will be getting a medical opinion on his injury on Tuesday.

“The condition of Ganga is being monitored closely and only after he sees his doctor on Tuesday will a decision be made on his availability for selection,” said Ramkessoon on Saturday at a ceremony to bowl off the 2011 cricket season at SIS Central Sports Ground, Maha Sabha Street in Felicity.

The 50-Over match between hosts SIS Central Sports and defending champions Queen’s Park was rained out because of persistent heavy showers and a waterlogged outfield by experienced umpire Khemraj Barasingha and match referee Lennox Madhosingh without a ball being bowled.

Four other matches were scheduled for yesterday.

Ganga, who missed the final of the recent Caribbean T20 tournament in Barbados last Sunday against English champions Hampshire because of the finger painful injury could be forced to hand over the captain’s armband to his deputy, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Ramdin led T&T to a masterly victory in the final and was roundly acclaimed for his astute and competent handling of the team in such an important match which qualified the champions for the Airtel Champions League T20 to be staged in India later this year.

The injury to Ganga will reportedly take another two weeks to completely heal which will rule the captain out of the first match of the 2011 regional campaign and make room for a middle-order batsman with the returning Tishan Mahraj in line for a recall to the national team.

On Saturday, Ramkessoon said that the 14-man national senior cricket squad will be released to the media on Monday which he promised will comprise the best available players following the unavailability of opener Adrian Barath, the talented Bravo brothers--- Dwayne and Daren, fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and hard-hitting allrounder Kieron Pollard who will all be away on West Indies duty at the World Cup in India.

The chief selector said that the planned Under-16 competition also scheduled to start on Saturday was unfortunately postponed because of concerns rained by the Secondary Schools Cricket League after parents protested about amount of cricket that is being played by the youngsters.

Ramkessoon said a meeting will on held on Monday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva between all stakeholders to ascertain the problem and to consider what should be done to arrive at a solution that is satisfactory to all.

He appealed to the SIS Central Sports and Queen’s Park players to always remember that they are role models and to conduct themselves on the field with disclipine so that their behaviour will not impact negatively on the young people looking at them for inspiration and direction.

Also addressing the players and officials was Arjune Ramlal, General Secretary of the T&TCB who congratulated both teams for coming up with their strongest line-up for the first match of the season which he deemed a “grudge” affair following their close final last season which the Parkites won.

Ramlal urged the players to play at the highest level in all of the T&TCB’s competitions --- Premiership, T20 and League--- and thanked the clubs for bringing to the fore their latent talent for the national selectors to consider.

MEMBERS of the SIS Central Sports cricket team are introduced by their captain Navin Chan, from left, to Dudnath Ramkessoon, first vice-president of the T&T Cricket Board, Arjune Ramlal, secretary of the T&TCB; while Richard Ramkissoon, manager of of the club looks on
CAPTAIN of Queen's Park Cricket Club Justin Guillen, from left, introduces members of his team to Dudnath Ramkessoon at Felicity on Saturday
QUEEN'S Park manager Jeffrey Guillen, centre, pleads his case with Dudnath Ramkessoon, left and Richard Ramkissoon of SIS Central Sports on Saturday at the Premier League 50-Overs match.	CAPTAINS of rival teams--- SIS Central Sports' Navin Chan, second from left, and Justin Guillen, right, listen to umpire Khemraj Barasingha while match referee Lennox Madhosingh looks on after the Premier League 50-Over match was aborted yesterday
TOP spinner Amit Jaggernauth, left, and Queen's Park Cricket Club captain Justin Guillen in the pavilion as rain ruins match at Felicity PHOTOS COURTESY T&T CRICKET BOARD

Today’s Matches:

Round Two T&TCB 50-Overs Competition

Premier League
Ceramic Merry Boys vs Clico Preysal, St Mary’s Ground
PowerGen vs SIS Central Sports, Syne Village
FCC Clarke Road vs T&TEC, Wilson Road
QPCC vs Moosai’s Sports, Queen’s Park Oval
WC Wanderers vs Alescon Comets, Gilbert Park