Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket selection panel Anthony Gray has welcomed the addition of the Namalco Under-23 cricket series, saying it will prove vital to the domestic cricket structure.
Speaking to Guardian Media while viewing the North Masqueraders versus South Pavers clash at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy at Tarouba on Sunday, Gray welcomed the T&T Cricket Board for the initiative.
He said: “We must congratulate the T&T Cricket Board on this initiative. When you look at the setup, not everyone can make the Trinidad senior team at one time and many players get disheartened and leave the game.
“Here is a situation where you are seeing players taking part in this Interzone tournament that you would have forgotten or even never heard much of. This is now a chance for them to address the national selectors yet again. What has happened here is that the board has now widened the net in terms of the players on show for the selectors to have a look at.”
“We even have foreign players in the setup and we want all players to know that their place is not guaranteed on the team. We have must healthy competition for places on the team and then you would see the quality of play increase.”
Gray continued: “The TTCB has put all in place for the cricketer to have plenty of opportunities to play for his country. Those that want it badly will be those that are willing to put in the hard work.
“Everything is set out for them, now is for them to want it and work towards it.”