Atlantic LNG cricketers off

The all-star team was chosen last week following completion of the Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Cricket League and a subsequent coaching development camp held in July.

Captain of the team is all-rounder Stephen Sooklal, who led Sangre Grande Hindu to championship honours in the Super League of the Atlantic competition.

Manager is John Lewis, General Secretary of the National Primary Schools Cricket League.

The team, which returns on August 9, will play 35-over matches against Under-13 teams from the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, a St Vincent Primary Schools X1 and a grammar school from St Vincent.

Forbes Persaud, Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), was on hand to address the departing team and officials at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre, Balmain, Couva on Sunday.

“This is the very first time that a primary schools team will be embarking on a goodwill tour of any regional country. You are making national cricket history. Be on your best behaviour, win friends and play to the best of your ability. Always remember that you are representing your country,” Persaud told the young cricketers.

He praised sponsors Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago for partnering with the Board to develop the future of our cricketing talent.

Rick Cape, Atlantic LNG’s President, said that Atlantic was pleased to be a catalyst for the ground-breaking tour to St Vincent. “We are committed to the continuing development of Trinidad and Tobago cricket at the nursery stage. It is important that proper guidance and encouragement is given to these young cricketers to enable them to realise their full potential.

“We are confident that the talent that has been emerging from the Atlantic National Primary Schools League will serve not only Trinidad and Tobago, but West Indies cricket, well in the future,” Cape said.

Captain Stephen Sooklal said his team was eagerly looking forward to playing good cricket and winning their matches.

“It is a great honour for me to captain this Trinidad and Tobago team. We have a very balanced team and will do our best to make our country proud of us,” Sooklal said.

Team Manager John Lewis said the development camp, which brought 90 players from Trinidad and Tobago together, along with the subsequent intensive training of the all-star team, served to improve the technical skills and mental concentration of the players.

“They are well prepared to face the challenges in St Vincent. We have a bunch of very talented lads who should perform at their very best,” Lewis said. Five members of the touring party come from Sangre Grande Hindu, while Super League runners-up Clarke Rochard Government account for three picks.

Team: Stephen Sooklal (captain), Brandon Ramdial, Randy Ramlogan, Brandon Bharath, Jimmy Thomas, Stephen Katwaroo, Amit Badree, Dwight Pope, Kiron Bennie, Kazeem Mohammed, Nairon Motilal, Jeron Joseph, Emmanuel Lett, Randy Narine, Shaquille Katwaroo and Sheehan Bryne. Officials: John Lewis (manager), Benjamin Santoo (asst. manager), Glen Dwarika (coach), Simboonath Beepat (asst. coach), Anthony Ramjit, (chef de mission), Joyce Samuel (chaperon) and Bachan Boochoon (technical director).