Evin Lewis recalled to T&T Red Force team after nine years

Aggressive opening batsman Evin Lewis has been recalled to the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)’s Red Force team for the 2026 West Indies regional first-class tournament, which begins on April 12.
The left-handed Lewis last played first-class cricket for T&T in March 2017. The Red Force team is stacked with experience, and they are aiming to go all the way this season.
Captain Joshua Da Silva, Amir Jangoo, Jason Mohammed, and Jyd Goolie are entrusted with the middle order, while Yannic Cariah, Terrance Hinds, and Joshua James are the all-rounders selected.
Khary Pierre and Bryan Charles are the frontline spinners, while Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip are the seam bowlers.
Head Coach Rayad Emrit said it was very difficult selecting the Red Force team this season.
“It is very difficult to pick the final 13, and it will be just as difficult to select the final 11,” Emrit admitted.
He pointed to several standout players who forced selectors into tough decisions.
Among them, Lewis amassed over 500 runs, while Cephas Cooper continued his reputation for consistency across formats.
Jeremy Solozano, Cooper’s opening partner at PowerGen Penal, missed out despite scoring a double hundred during the season.
Meanwhile, Ricky Jaipaul, the competition’s leading wicket-taker, was among those who narrowly missed out on the final squad.
The depth of talent has created what Emrit termed a “good headache”, with more than 20 players in contention and several capable of stepping into the team at short notice.
“It was a kind of headache, but it is a good headache to have players on the bench who are just as good as the players selected,” he said.
Emrit confirmed that places in the squad were awarded based on performances at the club level, reinforcing a merit-based system that has intensified pressure on even the most established players.
The omission of several in-form and seasoned cricketers signals a shift in the Red Force setup, where reputation alone no longer guarantees selection.
T&T Red Force team: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Cephas Cooper, Evin Lewis, Amir Jangoo, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Terrance Hinds, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Bryan Charles, Jyd Goolie, Joshua James
Reserves: Navin Bidaisee, Ricky Jaipaul, Dejourn Charles