South, North square off in Under-19 Classic

The 50-overs-a-side match gets underway from 10 am and the national selectors will have another opportunity to witness some of TT ’s best youth talents on show before making their final selection for the Regional Under-19 tournament which will be staged in St Kitts from July 21 to August 28.

South won the title last year with Cooper as the outstanding batsman of the team.

They will also be dependant on Saiba Batoosingh, Shaaron Lewis and Justyn Gangoo to repel the challenge of their northern counterparts who lifted the trophy in 2015.

Kallicharran, a member of the triumphant West Indies Under 19 team that won the ICC World Youth Cup in Bangladesh last year; will captain the North Zone team that also includes West Indies Under-19 selectees Keagan Simmons and Tishawn Alleyne as well as WI Under 19 reserve player Navin Bidassie.

SQUADS - SOUTH: Cephas Cooper (captain), Jace Assoon, Christian Thurton, Saiba Batoosingh, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Fiaz John, Nicholas Seepersad, Justyn Gangoo, Dennis Ramnath, James Duncan, Jayden Seales, Shaaron Lewis; Kelvin Williams (coach), Mistri Lutchmedial (manager).

NORTH: Kirstan Kallicharran (captain), Keagan Simmons, Navin Bidassie, Leonardo Julien, Sachin Seecharran, Leonardo Francis, Wendell George, Aaron Maniram, Tishawn Alleyne, Joshua James, Davon Shanghie, Ronaldo Foster, Jean Phillippe Barry; Rajendra Ramadhin (coach), Kenneth Samuel (manager).

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).