F Persaud: Gavaskar to coach in T&T (16 July 1997)

16 July 1997

Gavaskar to coach in T&T

Forbes Persaud

SUNIL GAVASKAR, the masterful right-handed opening batsman, who scored 13 Test centuries against the West Indies, is coming to coach Trinidad and Tobago's young cricketers.

Details of the contract were revealed at the quarterly meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (T&TCBC) held at the weekend at the board's offices in Port of Spain.

According to T&TCBC president Alloy Lequay, discussions were held with the prolific Indian opening batsman during the Trinidad leg of the Indian cricket tour earlier this year. Lequay did not disclose what financial arrangements the board made with Gavaskar.

A punishing, flamboyant batsman noted for impeccable technique, Gavaskar amassed 10,122 runs in his 126 Test appearances, scoring a record 34 Test centuries.

For years he was the Indian batsman opposing bowlers most wanted to dismiss, piling up 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year on three occasions with an average of 51.12 and a top score of 236 not out against West Indies at Madras.

The diminutive former Indian captain who has been a frequent visitor to Trinidad, even after his playing days were over, will be the second cricket star from the Asian continent booked to conduct coaching programmes in the West Indies.

A week ago, the West Indies Cricket Board announced that former Pakistani leg-spin and googly bowler Intikhab Alam will be holding a specialised coaching programme for legspin bowlers. Intiqab is scheduled to begin his stint in early August.

Selected to take part in this programme are West Indies Test cricketers Shivanarine Chanderpaul, Dinanath Ramnarine, Rawle Lewis, Brian Murphy, and Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Trinidad and Tobago's Avidesh Samaroo who was also selected opted out as the date conflicts with the Nortel Youth series in which he will be representing his country.

It was also disclosed at the T&TCBC meeting that former West Indies wicketkeeper batsman Jeffrey Dujon will hold a clinic for wicketkeepers involved in the Nortel series in Guyana at the end of the youth tournament.