PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Adverse weather again threatens the Caribbean Twenty20 Trophy which is scheduled to bowl off here with a blockbuster encounter between pre-tournament favourites Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica today.
Heavy rain drenched the country all day yesterday, seriously putting in doubt the doubleheader which also sees Leeward Islands and Canada lifting the curtain on the second leg of the tournament at Queen’s Park Oval.
The start of the first leg in Barbados last week was also threatened by rain but all the games proceeded with little interruption.
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago both emerged from that leg without a loss with their semi-final spots booked and their clash could now be a precursor for Saturday’s final, once rain allows.
“The rain has definitely put a different angle on everything now. We will need to win our group in order to be safe, if the rain plays a big hand,” T&T manager Colin Borde said.
“At the end of the day we have no control of the elements but what we know is that the drainage at the Queen’s Park Oval is magnificent, so play would be possible if the rain ceases.
“We have won both our games thus far and we want to continue our winning ways, as we move forward. All the guys are fit and ready and we have been lucky enough to get in some time in the middle at the National Cricket Centre (NCC).
“As we have said before we go into games thinking it is a final and I am confident that the boys will come good against the Jamaicans.”
Left handed batsman Darren Bravo is expected to play his first game in the tournament at the expense of William Perkins while the selectors may also toy with the idea of bringing in West Indies ‘A’ all rounder Imran Khan for his national T20 debut.
Jamaica, meanwhile, are not sure whether devastating opener Chris Gayle will be available for the match.
The West Indies captain injured his groin in the opening match against the Leewards and has since been in-active. He underwent an MRI scan on Monday but there has been no word on his availability.
“I will have a chat with Chris to determine his availability for the match but I am sure he will be ready for the semis,” Lambert said.
“Trinidad is a very good team and they know how to play T20 cricket. We have beaten them at home before in the longer version and I don’t see why we cannot defeat them in the T20.
“They are difficult to beat at home but we are hopeful to get past them and finish as group leaders.”
Jamaica and T&T has the same number of points in Group A but the Jamaicans enjoy a better net run rate of +1.810 compared to the locals’ +1.456. Should rain wash out Wednesday’s match, then Jamaica would go through as group leaders, with T&T second.
If the semi-final is washed out, the winners of the each group would move on to contest the finals.
TEAMS:T&T – Daren Ganga (captain), Samuel Badree, Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Adrian Barath, Dwayne Bravo, William Perkins, Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Navin Stewart, Kieron Pollard, Dave Mohammed, Imran Khan, Denesh Ramdin.
JAMAICA – Tamar Lambert (capt), Nikita Miller, Carlton Baugh, David Bernard, Odean Brown, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Danza Hyatt, Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment, Andrew Richardson, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie.
CANADA – Rizwan Cheema (captain), Harvir Baidwan, Trevin Bastiampillai, Geoff Barnett, Umar Bhatti, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Henry Osinde, Parth Desai, Tyson Gordon, Calvert Hooper, Usman Limbada, Hiral Patel, Zubin Sukari, Hamza Tariq
LEEWARDS – Wilden Cornwall (captain), Omari Banks, Runako Morton, Jacques Taylor, Justin Athanaze, Kerry Mentore, Tonito Willett, Kelbert Walters, Shane Jeffers, Anthony Martin, Garvin Tonge, Lionel Baker, Kadeem Phillip, Javier Liburd.
