Trinidad and Tobago selected Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper for the CWI regional T20 tournament scheduled for April 25-May 9. The draft included seven protected players, focusing on enhancing pace attack with new talents. Teams must have 14 players under 30, featuring local and overseas players, reflecting a commitment to developing future talent in T20 cricket.
Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper have been included in Trinidad and Tobago’s 14-man squad for the upcoming Cricket West Indies (CWI) regional Twenty/20 tournament, slated for April 25 to May 9. The draft took place on February 24, with the team, named TT Legions, seeking to strengthen its pace attack after confirming seven protected players prior to the draft.
The seven protected players include Navin Bidaisee, Jyd Goolie, Mikkel Govia, Joshua James, Kamil Pooran, Crystian Thurton, and wicket-keeper/batsman Amir Jangoo, who debuted for the West Indies in December and played his first Test against Pakistan in January. Additional players selected during the draft feature all-rounder Damion Joachim and seamers McKenny Clarke, Johann Layne, Shaaron Lewis, and Abdul-Raheem Toppin.
Clarke and Layne, both of whom possess Caribbean Premier League (CPL) experience, were TT’s overseas picks in the draft. At 21 years old, Clarke hails from St Lucia, while Layne, also 21, is from Barbados. Shaaron Lewis, a 26-year-old left-arm pacer, previously played for Trinbago Knight Riders and notably dismissed Jangoo during a match against Jamaica Tallawahs.
Details on the draft from CWI have been limited, yet a TT official confirmed the selected player roster. CWI officials were scheduled to meet on February 27 to discuss the tournament’s details further. The matches will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, with various teams representing the other territorial boards: Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Caimans, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, and Windward Islands Infernos.
All participating teams will consist of 14 players, with each player being under 30 years of age by the tournament’s conclusion. Teams may select three players aged 27 to 29, which TT utilized to include Goolie, Pooran, and Jangoo. Additionally, the selection rules mandate that one protected pick must be a wrist-spinner, fulfilled by TT’s choice of the 24-year-old leg-spinner Bidaisee.
To be eligible for the tournament, players must have fewer than ten T20 international caps and 40 List A T20 matches. Each team is allowed to draft a minimum of two overseas players. TT Red Force coach Rayad Emrit commented on the absence of seamers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip, who are committed to English County Championship contracts that will intersect with the T20 tournament.
Proposing a bright future, Emrit stated, “There obviously isn’t any real T20 tournament that we can get the next crop of T20 players from or people from outside could see our younger talent. It’s a good initiative from CWI and CPL. I just thought our players tend to develop a little older.” This perspective suggests the need for potential adjustments to the age restrictions for player eligibility.
In summary, Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket team has strategically selected a balanced squad for the upcoming regional T20 tournament, incorporating notable players such as Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper. The team aims to enhance its pace attack while adhering to CWI’s eligibility criteria. Coach Rayad Emrit emphasizes the importance of this initiative for cultivating emerging talent within the region, pointing towards the need for continued development in T20 cricket.
Original Source: newsday.co.tt
