PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, CMC- Former West Indies wicket-keeper, David Williams, is backing Rayad Emrit to lead Trinidad and Tobago to victory in the Asia vs. The Caribbean Twenty20 tournament starting tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval.
In the absence of usual skipper Denesh Ramdin, Emrit will captain Trinidad and Tobago in the four nation tournament also involving Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Barbados.
Ramdin and a number of T and T frontline players—including Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Samuel Badree and Darren Bravo—are in camp in Barbados ahead of the West Indies’ departure for the World T20, starting September 18.
The other T&T players at the camp-Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine – are preparing to represent their IPL clubs, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
“We’re backing him to get the team over the line. Rayad is capable of handling himself, the guys rally around him,” said Williams in an interview with the Trinidad Express.
“They know what to expect, and what they have to do. It’s all about supporting Rayad and making sure we get the right result.”
The Asia vs. the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament is seen as an opportunity for fringe players to force their way on to the Red Force for the Nokia Champions league in South Africa next month.
T and T will face English county T/20 runners up Yorkshire, in their opening match in qualifying Pool 2 on October 10th.
Among players battling for a place in the champions league squad is former captain Daren Ganga.
“Daren’s been trying. He’s been working, doing his bit, he made a few runs in trial matches”said Williams.
“But the best 15 will go. If Daren has done his best and he is there, then so be it.”
T&T will be seeking revenge when they take on Afghanistan in their opening match tomorrow.
Williams said his side is not taking the Afghans for granted after losing to them in a similar tournament in Canada last year.
“Maybe we did underestimate them just a bit, simply because we knew nothing about them,” Williams said.
“We’re now fully aware of their strengths and their weaknesses. They have grown from strength to strength but we are pretty confident whatever we put on the park, we will be able to deal with whatever they throw at us.”
