Gabriel back on T&T team

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel is back on the T&T team after a lay-off forced by back injury. Gabriel made his Test debut for the West Indies against England in May and after an impressive start, had to return home with a back injury. The Queen’s Park player was diagnosed with a slip disc in his lower back. Since then he has undergone an extensive period of rehabilitation and is now fit and back in the fold. His return almost spells the end of the return of former West Indies pacer Mervyn Dillon who was chosen for a couple of games in his absence. The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) yesterday revealed the names of the players to participate in the Asia versus the Caribbean T20 Extravaganza starting tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval. With eight regular players missing from the T&T line-up, the look of the team is still impressive. The Red Force will be led by all rounder Rayad Emrit as they come up against Barbados, Afghanistan and Bangladesh for a first prize of US$50,000 in the three-day tournament. 

 

Also included on the team is former captain Daren Ganga, as well as the fit again Kevon Cooper. Competition within the T&T team will be keen as the players will be given a last opportunity to impress the selectors who would name the final team for the Champions League in South Africa at the end of this tournament. Impressive Queen’s Park left arm spinner Kharey Pierre is also included on the team and will be looking to get into the final eleven after being on the squad to Florida recently but not making the final squad against Jamaica. Talented opener Justin Guillen who batted impressively in Florida would be looking to remind the selectors of his credentials as a hard hitting batsman in the shorter form of the game. Today, the national team will check into the Hyatt Regency Hotel, while Afghanistan will play against a Select XI at the National Cricket Centre in Couva from 2 pm and Bangladesh will battle a Tobago XI at Shaw Park. All rounder Navin Stewart who has been selected on the national team will represent Tobago today, while Sherwin Ganga and Evin Lewis will play for the Select XI against Afghanistan.

 

The full T&T team

 

Rayad Emrit (capt), Adrian Barath, William Perkins, Evin Lewis, Justin Guillen, Daren Ganga, Sherwin Ganga, Jason Mohammed, Shannon Gabriel, Navin Stewart, Dave Mohammed, Kevon Cooper, Yannick Ottley and Kharey Pierre.