Fifteen cricketers from around the West Indies, including T&T's Jesse Bootan, Bryan Charles, Yannic Cariah and Anisa Mohammed will participate in a three-week long spin bowling clinic in Barbados starting today, conducted by former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.
Mushtaq, who made his debut for Pakistan in 1995, played 49 Test matches and 169 One-day Internationals (ODI) in his career that spanned more than eight years. He took 208 Test wickets and 288 ODI wickets. The Pakistani has been contracted by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) at the request of West Indies Head Coach Ottis Gibson. Gibson's goal is to improve the skill of current international players and potential future West Indian spin bowlers.
Charles, who represented the national U-19 team in the WICB Regional three-day and 50-over tournament in July and August, has been invited. Off-break bowler Charles, who graduated from Presentation College, Chaguanas in July, ended the WICB U-19 three-day tournament as the leading wicket-taker. Charles grabbed 29 wickets at an average of 13.59. Lalman Kowlessar, who was Charles' coach at Presentation, always saw his potential. "He has come through the ranks, and he is now on the national under-19 team," he stated. Kowlessar, who has known Charles for the past seven years, also spoke proudly about his balanced life. "He has been able to balance cricket and studies, and he has been accepted into university." He also said "This year was one of his best, and this (clinic) will continue to help him develop."
Bootan, who bowls leg-break and ploughs his trade for Queen's Park Cricket Club, will join his national U-19 teammate. Bootan should be full of confidence after walking away with the Phil Thomson Youth Personality of the Year Award at Queen's Park's Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony last Friday.
Three female West Indies players have been invited to the clinic, including T&T's Mohammed. Twenty-five-year-old Mohammed, who bowls off-break, was part of the West Indies team that made it to the final of the Women's World Cup in February. West Indies came out on the losing end to Australia by 114 runs. The other women selected are Stafanie Taylor from Jamaica and Barbadian Shaquana Quintyne.
Twenty-one-year-old Cariah will also work on his leg-break bowling at the spin clinic. Cariah was part of the T&T Red Steel squad that made it to the semifinal of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League.
Former West Indies spinner Lance Gibbs was contacted by the WICB to co-facilitate the clinic, but he was unfortunately not available.
List of players
Bryan Charles (T&T), Jesse Bootan (T&T), Anisa Mohammed (T&T), Yannic Cariah (T&T), Larry Edwards (Windward Islands), Shane Shillingford (Windward Islands), Akeem Dewar (Jamaica), Ramaal Lewis (Jamaica), Stafanie Taylor (Jamaica), Devendra Bishoo (Guyana), Veerasammy Permaul (Guyana), Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai (Guyana), Ashley Nurse (Barbados), Jomel Warrican (Barbados), Shaquana Quintyne (Barbados).
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