T&T Red Force was dealt another blow yesterday with the news that skipper Rayad Emrit will be out of the upcoming WICB Professional four-day clash against the Windward Islands which starts on Friday at the Beausejour in St Kitts.
The national selectors were forced to make another change to the team, with the youthful pacer Daniel St. Clair coming in to replace the injured Emrit.
All rounder Emrit was injured in the finals of the Nagico Super50 tournament against Guyana. He was able to carry his team to the title and will be hoping to get back into action soon in the four-day tournament.
T&T is second from bottom in the six-team table after four rounds with 24 points–two shy of the Windwards who are fourth. With the title going to the winner of the league phase, the Red Force have little or no chance of lifting the First Class title that was last in their grasp in 2006.
Jason Mohammed will lead the team in Emrit's absence.
The team is already depleted with the absence of Dwayne Bravo (retired), Rampaul Rampaul (injured), Keiron Pollard (injured), Sunil Narine (still working on bowling action), Kevon Cooper (still working on bowling action), Denesh Ramdin (West Indies duties), Lendl Simmons (West Indies duties) and Darren Bravo (West Indies duties).
The Windwards have enjoyed the better of the exchanges in recent times in the longer format against the Red Force.
Another change to the team comes at the management level with Roland Sampath the former national player taking over the ranks of manager. He replaces former minister of Sport, Manohar Ramsaran who resigned after the win against Guyana in the Nagico Series.
President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath still has belief in the team. "We have to give full support to the young players who are going out there to represent us. It is unfortunate that we are missing so many senior players at this time but it also gives an opportunity for a young player to put his hands up and make full use of the opportunity that is before him. I wish this team all the best and look forward to good cricket from them against the Windwards."
T&T squad
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Evin Lewis, Jeremy Solozano, Jason Mohammed (captain), Yannick Cariah, Khesan Ottley, Kjorn Ottley, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Daniel St Clair, Steven Katwaroo, Shannon Gabriel, Marlon Richards, Deron Davis, Roland Sampath (manager), Augustine Logie (coach), Kelvin Williams (assistant coach), Oba Gulston (physiotherapist).