Bad weather worries TT cricket manager

Heavy rain yesterday morning prevented play on the third day of the second cricket trial at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), Balmain, Couva. So far only one day’s play has been possible and that was on the opening day on Friday. Shazam Babwah’s team batted first and scored 154 all out with TT’s newest player Ricardo Powell top-scoring with 45. In reply Imaran Jan’s XI  has rallied well to reach 100 for three but since then no play has been possible. Only in one of the scheduled seven- day plays so far in the two trial matches has cricket been played. A worried  manager Omar Khan said the bad weather is hampering TT’s preparations for the 2004 series.

“We are hoping that the weather holds so that we can get some play. The guys have been stranded at the indoor nets and although this is useful, there is nothing like going into the middle to play some cricket. It is here that the guys can enjoy their full run up and the fielders can get their practice,” Khan said. The players bidding for national selection will hope for play today but Khan said two other practice matches are scheduled before the annual Pizza Hut North/South Classic. “We are looking to get in two two-day practice matches over the remaining period before the Classic and hopefully a one-day match against the West Indies Under-19 team on Friday,” Khan said. Meanwhile the West Indies Under-19 clash against W-Connection Wanderers at Gilbert Park was also washed out yesterday by the heavy rains in central. The team, here in Trinidad need to get themselves in top form for the International Cricket Council (ICC), Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, has endured the bad weather. They will re-enter camp this morning with the hope of getting in some net practice so that something meaningful can come out of the two-week programme. The West Indies Under-19 team leave at the end of January for Bangladesh where they will compete in the fourth Youth World Cup.