PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Amidst the confusion engulfing West Indies cricket, Trinidad and Tobago are pressing ahead with preparation for the inaugural WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) which bowls off this month across the region.
At the centre of the chaos is the reduction in the earnings of West Indies players in order to fund the new format, a move that resulted in one-day players abandoning the recent tour of India.
However, with the players, their union WIPA, and the WICB still locked in talks of the contentious manner, T&T have been busy preparing for the new-look season.
“[The team’s preparation] is rounding up pretty well. Players are gaining in confidence and what we are looking for at this point in time is three days of sunshine,” said T&T coach Gus Logie, in reference to the recent volatile weather.
He said there had been no communication with the Trinidad players who were part of the abandoned India tour.
“I believe they have other things on their minds at present and hopefully once that is resolved, we will then move from there,” Logie said.
T&T open their campaign against archrivals Barbados at Queen’s Park Oval, from November 14-17. Known as the Red Force, T&T will welcome Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan to their ranks.
Sarwan was one of just two players snapped up by franchises outside of their home territory. Barbados all-rounder Raymon Reifer is the other player, picked up by Guyana.
The right-handed Sarwan, a veteran of 87 Tests and over 200 first class matches, arrived here on Thursday and will join the training camp which Logie said had gone well so far. “At the moment we are on track in terms of our technical work,” the former West Indies player and coach explained.
“The guys have been coming into the net sessions and we have the players in a programme basically from Tuesday to Thursday. The guys are looking forward to another three-day game this weekend and we have Sarwan with us also so that is a plus.”
While Sarwan will be a huge boost to T&T’s batting, Logie said he was encouraged by the recent form of some of the younger players.
He also said the return of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel would be a much needed fillip for the bowling department. Right-armer Gabriel has been campaigning in Sri Lanka with West Indies A.
“Evin (Lewis) has had two centuries so far. We have had a 90-odd from young Jeremy Solozano. We have also had a fifty from Jason Mohammed and (Steven) Katwaroo and (Nicholas) Pooran as well,” Logie pointed out.
“The top order is looking okay and we are basically looking forward to something from (Adrian) Barath.”
He added: “In the bowling, we had Akeal (Hosein) who got eight wickets recently [and] that is a plus for us, and we are looking forward to Shannon Gabriel joining the team.”
