We will redeem ourselves next year says players

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Trinidad & Tobago will be coming harder than ever next year to regain some of the prestige they have lost, following a year in which they promised much, but delivered very little.

The assurance has come from Azim Bassarath, president of the T&T Cricket Board, following discussions with players on the national team, after they exited the WICB Regional One-day competition at the group stage.

“The players are currently hurting after recent performances, and we need to stand by them, through this low period,” said Bassarath.

“We are also making a call to the public to have patience, as the team looks to work its way out of the current situation.”

He added: “We have told the players that after dominating the regional scene, other countries would have been viewing them and doing their homework on how to better T&T.

“We have urged them to work hard, and try to get ahead of the rest and stay there next time.”

T&T had also promised much in the WICB Regional first-class championship earlier in the year, but finished fourth, and were favourites to take the inaugural Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, only to be overturned by eventual champions Guyana in the semi-finals on home soil, where they finished third.

“We have told the players that we are proud of them, and we are going to do all we can to make sure that they are well taken care of, as they go out to represent the country,” said Bassarath.

“The national team preparations committee will be meeting soon to plan a programme for the players to train for the regional T20 series, which is the next tournament ,and we are going to use our resources to make their preparation the best that it can be.”

Bassarath met with each member of the side and management individually last week, and his conclusion was that the side had two bad matches, which crushed their season.

“They spoke off the T20 semi-final loss against Guyana, and the match against the Windwards in the recent  50 overs championship,” he said.

“What they basically told us is that they had two bad days at the ‘office’, and would be fighting very hard in the new year to correct their flaws, and ensure that they win their big matches.”