Imran Jan to captain TT in regional cricket series

Left-handed opening batsman Imran Jan will captain Trinidad and Tobago during the 2004 Carib Beer regional series. This is until Test player Daren Ganga becomes available to play in the tournament as he is currently touring with the West Indies team in South Africa. Jan who served as interim captain earlier this year was the popular choice of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) selectors. However the number of matches he leads his country will depend on the availability of Test player Ganga. The solid right-hander could be available as soon as the second regional match if not selected by the West Indies selectors for the limited overs part of the South African safari.

Ganga is the regular captain of the national team and did services in this capacity for the majority of the Carib Beer series in 2003. TT open their challenge for the Carib Beer title on January 9 at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre against the Leeward Islands.  Jan has been captaining one of the trial teams in this year’s build-up to the series, while the other team has been led by the very talented Clico Preysal skipper Shazam Babwah. The right-hander is seems certain to be elected to the post of vice-captain of the national team. Jan has been very consistent as an opener for Trinidad and Tobago in First Class cricket and although he did not set the place afire in the Red Stripe Bowl series, he seems to be regaining his touch with the willow.

The Mayaro lad, whose twin bother Asif is also a national aspirant will be at the helm of an inexperience team of cricketers and will have to lead from the front in order to give TT a chance of capturing their first regional crown since 1985. Jan will be in action tomorrow when he leads one of the trial teams in the third scheduled trial at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva. So far seven of the scheduled eight days have been washed out and the selectors, who have already selected the national team, will be hoping that the rain holds so that the players can get in some much needed practice.