Former T&T batsman and coach Imran Jan has been retained by defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Professional League (CPL), which gets underway on September 4 in Port-of-Spain
With all the changes made to the management team, including the removal of head coach Simon Katich, speculation was rife that Jan would have followed the Australian out of the setup. However, he was given a contract for the sixth year running, with a high-ranking TKR official saying that he has done a wonderful job as an assistant coach over the last few years.
When contacted yesterday, Jan confirmed to Guardian Media Sports that he had signed his contract and will be assisting new head coach Brendon McCullum.
McCullum, a veteran New Zealander who retired from the one-day international game following a recent stint with the Kiwis at the 2019 ICC World Cup in England, has been a regular with the TKR over the last two seasons, playing an instrumental role in the T&T franchise willing back-to-back titles.
Jan said: “I am thrilled to be retained for my sixth season with the TKR franchise. Equally excited to be working alongside the newly-appointed head coach, the legend Brendon “Baz” McCullum as his assistant.
“We are two-time defending champions and I am super excited about winning a hat-trick of titles. We at TKR are a family and look forward to meeting and working with the new players soon.”
Also keeping his role in the team’s management is another Trinidadian, Colin Borde, who is the most successful manager in the history of the CPL with three titles. He won his first title under the T&T Red Steel banner and then followed up with titles won by TKR in 2017 and 2018. The league bowled off in 2013.
The 2019 Hero CPL will bowl off in T&T on September 4 with the TKR coming up against St Kitts/Nevis Patriots. This will be followed by a clash against Jamaica two days later and on September 8, TKR battle the re-installed St. Lucia Zouks. After three home games, they hit the road before coming back home towards the end of the round-robin phase to play another two games.
Qualifier II and the finals will also be played in T&T t the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando.