TT cricketers fight flu in J’ca

Trinidad and Tobago cricketers were fighting the influenza virus as they prepare for the opening match of the regional Red Stripe Bowl one-day tournament which gets underway tomorrow.

Their readiness could be compromised however as three players were struck down on arrival in Jamaica on Sunday. In form leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, middle batsman Shazam Babwah and rookie Ryad Emrit are all suffering from symptoms of the cold. However they are hoping to get back to full fitness in time for the opening match against the Leeward Islands tomorrow at Mona Campus, University of the West Indies Ground. Manager of the team Omar Khan told Newsday yesterday from Jamaica that the distressed players are struggling a bit. “But we working on it and are hoping to get the guys fit in time for the match on Wednesday,” Khan said yesterday. “The conditions of the players seems to have been brought on by them having to acclimatise over here. However they were all taken to the doctor and we are confident that come match time they will be ready to do well for Trinidad and Tobago,” said Khan.

The TT team had a three-hour long practice session at the Sabina Park Cricket Facility yesterday under coach Anthony Gray. Khan reported that team spirit was high and the players are looking forward to playing and winning the trophy for Trinidad and Tobago. “This morning when we turned up at Sabina Park for training the guys were all keen to get the practice underway and there seems to be a real urgency among the players to do well,” Khan said. “The national Under-15 and Under-19 teams have done so well during the past few seasons that the senior guys want to emulate that and take a trophy at the highest level of regional competition,” he said. The TT team arrived in Jamaica at 11.35 am on Sunday and was immediately transferred to the Knutford Court Hotel where they will stay for the duration of the tournament. The last time Trinidad and Tobago won the regional title was in 1997 under the leadership of Brian Lara who is a key member of the Daren Ganga-led squad.