Apologetic Jan recalled to training squad

ONE WEEK after being surprisingly omitted from a Trinidad and Tobago squad named to prepare for the upcoming regional cricket tournament, allrounder Imran Jan has been included. The latest development came after a 90-minute meeting on Tuesday night between Jan, the national selectors headed by Dudnath Ramkessoon and including Roland Sampath and coach David Williams; national captain Daren Ganga, team manager Omar Khan, trainer Gerard Garcia and West Indies Players Association Chief Executive Officer Dinanath Ramnarine. The left-handed opener and slow bowler played a key role in guiding Trinidad and Tobago to victory in the recent President’s Cup regional limited overs championship in Guyana and Barbados.

But on the victorious team’s return home it was reported that he defied team management and was reluctant to open the innings, voicing a preference to bat lower down the order. However, Jan countered that his actions had the approval of the team management and following his omission from the training squad threatened legal action and sought the assistance of WIPA. However, the contentious issues were settled on Tuesday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain Village, Couva when it was agreed that Jan will be free to join the team. “It was a cordial and productive meeting,” was all Ramkessoon said yesterday suggesting that details of decisions reached would be outlined in a media release. The young player will however have to apologise to the national cricket team including the tour management committee and the Cricket Board for his actions in Guyana during the first phase of the one-day tournament.

The release, signed by Allyson Ali on behalf of Ramkessoon also stated that WIPA fully supports the Cricket Board and the management committee in their position regarding discipline at all levels of the game. And that Jan will be fined his fees for one match. It was also decided that WIPA in agreement with the Cricket Board have volunteered to conduct conselling sessions for Jan as part of the personal and professional development of the player. Jan is expected to immediately join his team-mates in the training sessions leading up to the Carib Beer Series four-day competition. The sessions are currently underway at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre in Balmain.