Daren Ganga out of clash with Windwards

West indies batsman Daren Ganga will miss Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth round Carib Beer Series regional match against the Windward Islands starting tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval, in Port-of-Spain. Ganga who wasn’t chosen for the limited overs series between the West Indies and South Africa now underway was expected to lead the national team this weekend. However the opener has stopped over in England to attend to some urgent personal business on his trip back from South Africa.

Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team Omar Khan revealed yesterday that the solid right-hander had asked the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) for extra time. He is expected back in Trinidad next week in time for the fifth round match against Guyana in Berbice beginning on February 6. Ganga’s fellow West Indies player Dave Mohammed however will be available for the Oval match and will definitely feature in the discussions around the selection table. The national selectors headed by Dudnath Ramkeesoon met last night to pick the team for the Windwards match. Meanwhile the players had a day off yesterday and will resume training today in preparation for Friday’s action. Khan reported that the players are ready and keen to get at the Windwards. “We have come out on top in our first three matches and this shows that the players are focused on the job at hand,” the top PowerGen official said.

The homesters are currently second in the Carib Beer Series standings with 24 points — 12 adrift of leaders Barbados who have won their three matches to date. TT defeated the Leewards and Kenya on first innings and the West Indies “B” outright. “I am very happy with the players. They have given over 100 percent in all their matches so far. They are united and focused and will go on to great things in this series. I am confident that once the players remain focus and keep positive, they will get to their goal of bringing home the regional title that has eluded us for so long,” Khan said. The last time TT won the regional four-day tournament was back in 1985 under the leadership of spinner Rangy Nanan.