Jan called to explain actions

IMRAN JAN, the Trinidad and Tobago opening batsman omitted from the cricket squad preparing for the upcoming regional Carib Beer Series tournament will get an opportunity to plead his case on Tuesday. Chairman of the Selectors, Dudnath Ramkessoon said yesterday he has called an meeting between the parties involved in the controversy to get all the facts. The former West Indies Youth captain said he decided on this course of action in an effort to correct the mis-information that has been reported by some sections of the media. “It is necessary to hear Jan’s side of the story in the presence of the management team so all the facts can be vented and hopefully we can reach an amicable settlement to the issue,” said Ramkessoon.

Allrounder Jan was omitted from the 31-member squad earlier this week as disclipinary action was taken against him arising out of his reluctance to open the batting after being picked to do so in the first phase of the regional President’s Cup limited overs competition in Guyana last month. Jan reportedly told the team management, including manager Omar Khan, selector/coach David Williams, trainer Gerard Garcia and captain Daren Ganga, that he was uncomfortable opening the innings. According to Ramkessoon this action represented a serious breach of discipline and had the potential to derail the country’s challenge for the regional championship. “We can’t have players defying management. Senior players must set the correct example. Whatever concerns he may have had should have been brought up before the team left for Guyana not in the middle of the tournament,” said the former stylish Presentation College, Chaguanas batsman.

Ramkessoon said following the discussions on Tuesday, the selectors may or may not review Jan’s omission from the squad which starts preparations at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain on Tuesday. “I am not saying that we are going to rescind our decision to leave him out. But then again our actions are not cast in stone. If it is necessary we can correct whatever needs to be,” said Ramkeessoon. And he maintains that whatever the outcome he hopes that Jan will abide by the decision. “We hope to have constructive dialogue and wish that good sense will prevail in the end,” said Ramkeessoon. And the chief selectors said he does not feel threatened by reports that Jan is contemplating legal action to be reinstated. “We hope that the matter does not reach there. We feel that it is important to maintain discipline and at the end of the day our decision must stand up to scrutiny and be above board,” he said.

The left-handed Jan played a leading role in taking Trinidad and Tobago to their first regional cricket championship in eight years when they defeated Guyana in the final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. His match-winning 54 not out steered the TT team to a well-deserved victory in the final and totalled 156 runs in the tournament. He was also the team’s top wicket-taker with 14 scalps. Jan, whose twin brother Asif currently plays grade cricket in Australia has been campaigning in the English Minor Leagues for the past three years. He is being encouraged to pursue litigation to get back into the national squad but has also indicated that he is willing to pursue his options elsewhere since he wants to continue his career as a professional cricketer. Yesterday Ramkessoon left the door open for the young, promising cricketer. “We have not discarded him. The action taken was just for the Carib Beer Series tournament. We hope that he would stay in contention for consideration for the President’s Cup next year,” said Ramkessoon.