Red Force fielding strong squad for Super50 tourney
– Pollard, Pooran, Bravo among outstanding stars
The selectors are obviously relying on experience as the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force contest the CG Insurance Super50 Cup, to be staged in the Caricom State of Antigua and Barbuda from February 7 to February 27.
The 15-man squad announced includes Jason Mohammed, who is captaining the WI One-Day International (ODI) squad in Bangladesh in Pollard’s absence; along with all-rounder Akeal Hosein and opener Kjorn Ottley, who are both with the Windies ODI team for the three-match series against Bangladesh.
The Red Force are fielding a strong team in this tournament
Accomplished all-rounder Kieron Pollard, left-handed batsman Darren Bravo, and the ever-improving Evin Lewis as well as the prolific wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran – who all opted out of the tour of Bangladesh over COVID-19 fears – are included in the Red Force team.
The selection panel, comprising Chairman Rajendra Mangalie, Mahadeo Bodoe and Richard Kelly Jnr, also named veteran opener Lendl Simmons, mesmeric off-spinner Sunil Narine, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, leg-spinner Imran Khan, and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul in the squad.
Rounding off the squad are left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and the fast-bowling pair of Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales – the only person yet to represent T&T at the senior level.
Opener Tion Webster and middle-order batsman Jyd Goolie, who showed good form in the recent practice matches, failed to make the cut.
Nicholas Pooran will be among the stars
The Red Force were beaten semi-finalists in the 2019 edition of this tournament, which was played in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. The West Indies Emerging Stars were the overall winners, and there was no Super50 Cup in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Red Force Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Darren Bravo (vice-captain), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Jayden Seales, Kjorn Ottley, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre.
Technical staff: David Furlonge (coach), Sebastian Edwards (manager), Lyndon Knights (physiotherapist), Clinton Jeremiah (trainer), Kelly Sankar (masseur).
