Cricket injuries worry manager

INJURIES to key players are posing a headache for Trinidad and Tobago cricket team manager Omar Khan. Joining the list yesterday were solid middle-order batsman Shazam Babwah and right-arm off-spinner Rodney Sooklal. Both were forced to leave the field yesterday in the rain-affected match to prepare the national team for upcoming regional one-day tournament which gets underway in Guyana on October 16. “We are in some trouble,” said a worried Khan yesterday after returning to the National Cricket  Centre at Balmain after taking Sooklal for treatment at the nearby Couva District Hospital.

Sooklal hurt his left thumb when he dived to field a fullblooded drive off his bowling. It is believed to be the same finger that was previously broken. His left arm was placed in a sling and he was taken later for a precautionary X-ray at the San Fernando General Hospital to determine the full extent of the injury. But after an examination by sports medicine specialist Dr Terrance Babwah, Sooklal was given the good news that the finger was not broken but there was severe muscle damage which must be treated with medicine and physical therapy. Shortly after Sooklal left the field, Babwah, leading the Trinidad and Tobago LA Invitational XI against the national team retired hurt after aggravating his groin. He limped off the field and was in obvious pain.

Dr Babwah also examined the Clico Preysal player and diagnosed a badly torn groin muscle ruling him out of action for the next 10 days. “This is very worrying and we are going to monitor him very closely before taking a decision on Babwah playing in the one-day tournament,” said Khan. He said the team management were hoping that at this stage in the preparation of the side all players would have been fit and fine-tuning their mental and physical game. On Friday, West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo turned up for practice but complained of a pain in his thigh and was advised to rest for fear of worsening the injury which could have serious implications for the team’s chances in the upcoming Caribbean limited overs championships. Bravo is one of four star national players who were part of the victorious West Indies team which won the Champions Trophy competition in England last weekend.

However Mervyn Dillon, after a five-wicket match haul against Bangladesh in the first match of the tournament injured his side and shoulder and took no further part in the competition. He is still nursing the injury. Ricardo Powell is reported to have hurt his wrist and was expected at the National Cricket Centre yesterday, according to coach David Williams but did not show. And West indies captain Brian Lara may still be feeling some discomfort from being hit on the neck by a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer in the Champions Trophy Cup semi-final against Pakistan which floored him at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Since his return home on Monday, Lara has been fulfilling commitments for his sponsor Cable and Wireless touring the hurricane devastated islands of Grenada, Jamaica and the Caymans meeting with the victims of the natural disaster. Yesterday only 25 overs play was possible but not before Babwah showed he was rounding into form with a well played undefeated innings of 38 before retiring hurt.

After losing two quick wickets with the score on 18, The Trinidad and Tobago LA Invitational team were 84 for two wickets before heavy rain chased the players indoors. With Babwah at the wicket was former West Indies Under-19 captain Tishan Maraj who played a patient innings of 19. For the national team Reyad Emrit and Richard Kelly shared the wickets. Khan said that there is a possiblity of play today in the second match of the three-match series. “The ground is waterlogged but it drains very quickly. Once we have sunshine today we can get in some play after lunch,” Khan said.