TT arrive in B’dos without luggage

TRINIDAD and Tobago cricketers arrived in Barbados yesterday for the President’s Cup semi-final but their joy was quickly transformed into anger when it was discovered that their luggage was left in Guyana. As a result of the mix-up their preparation for the crucial match-up with hosts Barbados on Thursday has been thrown into disarray. Concerned manager of the team, Omar Khan, said yesterday that the players have all confined themselves to their rooms in the Silver Rock Hotel with only the clothes on their backs and with nothing to do. “We have been seriously inconvenienced by this mix-up in the arrangements. The players are extremely upset having to confine themselves with no change of clothes,” said Khan in a telephone interview from Barbados.

Equally important, said Khan, was the cricket gear that the players need to practise as they tune-up for the important semi-final, a rematch of the opening round fixture when Trinidad and Tobago upset the fancied Barbadians. Khan said a practice session is planned for this morning at the Police Sports Ground but may have to be cancelled. He has however been assured by Caribbean Star, the airline transporting the cricketers from Guyana to Barbados, that the team’s luggage will be arriving sometime today. Despite the hitch, Khan said the players remain upbeat about their chances of reaching the final of the regional limited overs tournament after clinching their place in the “semis” with a thrilling eight-run victory against the Leeward Islands on Sunday at Uitvlugt. However he said conditions in Barbados are different from Guyana where the first stage of the tournament was held.  He said his players will have to adjust quickly. “The wickets in Guyana were slower and we expect more pace and bounce here in Barbados. So both the batsmen and bowlers will have to get accustomed over the next few days,” Khan said.

With nothing to lose, he said the young crop of players, brimming with enthusiasm will be going for broke against the Barbadians who will hold the advantage playing with a very experienced team in front of their home crowd. However he said the Trinidad and Tobago team will have the psychological edge having beaten them two Saturdays ago. “We have a confident bunch of players who know they have beaten this Barbados team recently. “Their positive attitude which has taken them so far in the tournament will be called upon again if we are to reach the final,” said Khan. He said Trinidad and Tobago will play the semi-final at the Windward Ground on Thursday with the mind-set of a final. He said the Barbadians will be very hard to beat after topping the preliminary round of the championships which ended on Sunday. “It’s a different kettle of fish but we are going brave doing what we think is necessary to bring home the cup,” said Khan.

Trinidad and Tobago are playing without the services of their star players who have been ruled out because of injury. Among the top players missing are West Indies captain Brian Lara, veteran fast bowler Mervyn Dillon, exciting allrounder Dwayne Bravo, middle-order batsman Lendl Simmons and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul. Also out of the team is leg spinner Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed who was omitted after failing to turn up for trials.