PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former West Indies left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed has been included in a 14-man Trinidad and Tobago squad for their opening match of the Regional First Class Championship against Barbados starting here Friday.
The 31-year-old’s career was thought to be at an end when he was overlooked for the recent Caribbean Twenty20 Championships but was rewarded for strong performances during the recent trials where he grabbed six for 102 in the second match to sway selectors.
“When we looked at the make up of the team for the T20 format we considered him but had to leave him out in the end,” chairman of selectors Dudnath Ramkessoon said yesterday.
“However, he has come back well and is now on the team and we are looking for wickets from him again.”
Mohammed has not played four-day cricket for T&T since last January but turned out for them during their failed campaign in the Regional One-Day Championship last November in Jamaica.
Also making a comeback is left-hander Aneil Kanhai who has not played for the national team in almost seven years. However, scores of 143 and 141 in the trial matches earned him a middle order pick. Injured captain Daren Ganga has been included but will undergo a fitness test before a determination can be made about his place in the side. The right hander sustained a hand injury during the CT20 and has been involved in a race against time to be fit for the February 4-7 clash at Guaracara Park. Dr. Anil Goopiesingh is expected to present a medical report on Ganga’s injury.
If he is unable to suit up, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin will lead the side.
As expected, former Leeward Islands atsman Runako Morton will make his first class debut for T&T and will also bolster the middle order.
The bowling department, meanwhile, will be short of experience with pacers Shannon Gabriel and Atiba Allert sharing the new ball, leaving medium pace all-rounder Rayad Emrit with a major role to play as well.
The spin partner for Dave Mohammed will be either off-spinners Amit Jaggernauth or Sherwin Ganga.
SQUAD – Daren Ganga (captain) Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Lendl Simmons, Justin Guillen, Runako Morton, Jason Mohammed, Aneil Kanhai, Imran Khan, Dave Mohammed, Rayad Emrit, Amit Jaggernauth, Shannon Gabriel, Atiba Allert and Sherwin Ganga, Omar Khan (manager), Kelvin Williams (coach).
