Mbeki Joseph appointed captain of TT Under-17 cricket team

At the annual TT CB (TT Cricket Board) North-South Under-17 Classic last Saturday, Joseph led the South team to a three-wicket victory over their Northern counterparts at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva.

The attacking left-hander struck 54 in his team’s total of 174 runs for seven wickets in 24.1 overs while, along with Tariq Mohammed, featured in a match-winning 91-run first wicket stand, in response to North’s 173 all out in 39.1 overs.

Both Joseph and Mohammed got the nod of national selectors Boya Sahadeo (chairman), Kelvin Williams, Glen Dwarika, Robert Mahabir and Rajendra Ramadhin.

Former national Under- 15 player Leonardo Julien, who was at the helm of the North team, was named as vice-captain of the national Under-17 outfit. Julien’s Northern counterparts Leonardo Francis, Michael Ambard, Giovani Letren, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Sachin Soodeen, Samir Ali, Ronaldo Forrester and Joshua James (Tobago) got selected while Joseph’s other Southern teammates Avinash Mahabirsingh, Jayden Seales and Nicholas Ali made the final 14-member squad shortlisted for training.

Brandon Singh and Vanir Maharaj were named as reserve players.

Coach of the team is David Furlonge, who is currently the coach of the successful Queen’s Park squad, while national off-spinner Surujdath Mahabir (president of the Secondary Schools Cricket League) is the manager.

SQUAD: Mbeki Joseph (captain), Leonardo Julien (vice-captain), Michard Ambard, Nicholas Ali, Sameer Ali, Ronaldo Forrester, Leonardo Francis, Joshua James, Giovani Letren, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Tariq Mohammed, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Sachin Soodeen, Jayden Seales; David Furlonge (coach), Surujdath Mahabir (manager).