Trinidad & Tobago: Lara, TTCB settle matters (29 Aug 1998)

29 August 1998

Lara, TTCB settle matters

By Garth Wattley

It has been three months since his commitment to the cause became an issue.

But Trinidad and Tobago skipper Brian Lara has settled the matter to the satisfaction of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

Chairman of the national selection panel Rangy Nanan yesterday confirmed that Lara will lead the T&T team in next month's Red Stripe Bowl one-day series.

But that seemingly automatic confirmation, was not so certain in the preceding months.

Lara was given about a month back in July to declare his availability for the series.

That request from the TTCB came after the President's Cup four-day tournament in which T&T finished a disappointing fourth and the subsequent special manager's report submitted by Bryan Davis.

Within the month now-ending however, Lara has held discussions with both TTCB president Alloy Lequay and Nanan. And the chairman is in no doubt about his captain's commitment.

"He's prepared and available to do it," Nanan told the Express. As far as I know Brian is one who gives his best when available. We knew that he did not play in two games and there were reasons for not playing in the two games."

Despite the vote of confidence however, Nanan concedes that, "there is a little concern about next year. During the Test series and the President's Cup, games could be on at the same time.

"If that happens," Nanan said, referring to captaincy of the team for the four-day tournament, "that will have to be discussed. But we are looking at the present right now."

And in the present, the TTCB has named a group of 30 players from whom the eventual Bowl squad will be selected.

T&T will play in Zone 1 based in Guyana, where they have been grouped with the hosts, Bermuda and the Windward Islands.

The selectors are expected to name the final squad around September 20.

But before that, a series of trials will be held as the 1996 one-day champs try to regain the title.

Preparations will be begin on Tuesday,.

A group of about 22-locally-based players will begin net sessions and trials then. The trial matches are scheduled for September 12, 13, 19, 20.

Brian Lara, Phil Simmons, Ian Bishop, Marlon Black, Nigel Francis, Mervyn Dillon, Richard Smith, David Williams, Kishore Lalchan and Kenton Thompson, Paul Persaud, Suruj Ragoonath, Anil Balliram, Denis Rampersad, Daren Ganga, Ricardo Paty, Keno Mason, Navin Chan, Dinanath Ramnarine, Ken Hazel, Mukesh Persad, Avidesh Samaroo, Andre Lawrence, Emerson Williams, Lincoln Roberts, Shazam Babwah, Imran Jan, Jerry Jumadeen, Andy Jackson, Asif Jan.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)