Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper have been included in Trinidad and Tobago’s finalized 14-man squad for the regional T20 tournament, which is scheduled from April 25 to May 9. The draft took place on February 24, focusing on enhancing their pace attack and including several skilled performers from the Caribbean Premier League. Each team must restrict player ages to under 30 with specific selection guidelines to promote emerging talent.
West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Da Silva and opener Cephas Cooper have been selected for Trinidad and Tobago’s 14-man squad for the upcoming regional T20 tournament organized by Cricket West Indies. This tournament is provisionally scheduled to take place from April 25 to May 9. The draft, which occurred on February 24, aimed to enhance Trinidad and Tobago’s pace attack after confirming their initial seven protected players.
The seven protected players for Trinidad and Tobago, prior to the draft, included Navin Bidaisee, Jyd Goolie, CPL winner Mikkel Govia, Joshua James, Kamil Pooran, Crystian Thurton, and Amir Jangoo, a wicket-keeper/batsman who debuted for the West Indies in December and played in a Test match against Pakistan in January. Cooper and Da Silva join the squad alongside allrounder Damion Joachim and seamers McKenny Clarke, Johann Layne, Shaaron Lewis, and Abdul-Raheem Toppin.
McKenny Clarke and Johann Layne, who have prior Caribbean Premier League experience with the St Lucia Kings and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, represent Trinidad and Tobago’s overseas picks in this draft. Lewis, a left-arm pacer, competed for the Trinbago Knight Riders during the 2022 CPL season. The team confirmed player selections through a TT official, even as CWI has not publicly released draft details.
The tournament is set to be held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, with participation from CWI’s other territorial boards, including Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Caimans, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, and Windward Islands Infernos. Each of the 14-player teams must feature players under 30. The guidelines allow three selections between ages 27-29, which Trinidad and Tobago utilized for players Goolie, Pooran, and Jangoo.
The draft rules state that at least one of the protected players must be a wrist-spinner, which TT satisfied by selecting the 24-year-old leg-spinner Bidaisee. Participants must have fewer than ten T20 international caps and at least 40 “List A” T20 matches. Furthermore, each team is required to include a minimum of two overseas players.
Before the draft, TT Red Force coach Rayad Emrit noted the absence of key seamers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip due to commitments in the English County Championship, which overlaps with the T20 tournament. Emrit positively remarked about the initiative, stating, “There obviously isn’t any real T20 tournament that we can get the next crop of T20 players from… It’s a good initiative from CWI and CPL.”
TT’s final squad for the regional T20 tournament is composed of:
1. Navin Bidaisee
2. McKenny Clarke
3. Cephas Cooper
4. Joshua Da Silva
5. Mikkel Govia
6. Jyd Goolie
7. Amir Jangoo
8. Joshua James
9. Damion Joachim
10. Johann Layne
11. Shaaron Lewis
12. Kamil Pooran
13. Abdul Raheem-Toppin
14. Crystian Thurton.
Trinidad and Tobago has finalized their 14-player squad for the upcoming regional T20 tournament, incorporating key players like Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper to enhance their capabilities. The tournament’s structure emphasizes youth and talent development, presenting an opportunity for emerging players. With strategic player selections, Trinidad and Tobago aims to strengthen their competitive edge going into the tournament, set to begin in April.
Original Source: newsday.co.tt
