Ramdin set to regain captaincy for Super50

Former Test player Raphick Jumadeen, as chairman of the senior selection committee; and other selectors Roland Sampath (Manager of the Red Force team), Lalman Kowlessar and Tony Gray made the decision on Wednesday evening.

The selectors have decided to go for greater experience and have entrusted the responsibility back to Ramdin to motivate the players in their quest to successfully defend the regional limited-overs crown after a disastrous campaign so far in the four-day tournament where the Red Force are currently in last place.

Yesterday, the selectors settled on a 14-member squad and submitted it to the TT CB executive committee members for ratification. Once approved, the players’ names will be submitted to the WICB.

Since his return to the region from the Pakistan series in the United Arab Emirates, Ramdin had undergone rehab and physiotherapy and feels fully fit again to resume intense preparation for regional competition.

However, due to the death of his grandmother recently, Ramdin was forced to miss the two 50-overs practice matches on Tuesday and Wednesday last at the Queen’s Park Oval as the local players seek to make the shift from four-day cricket to one-dayers.

Asked to comment on his fitness and readiness for competitive play, Ramdin stressed: “I have been doing a lot of work during the rehab period to upkeep my physical fitness and be ready to resume playing serious cricket again.

Physically and mentally, I am ready to push myself again. Because of the shoulder injury I sustained during the Tri-Nations series, I was unable to give of my best. But I am optimistic that I will regain the match fitness during the preparation period for the Super50 competition.” Ramdin is one of the top wicketkeeper-batsman in the region and although he has lost his place in the West Indies Test and T20 teams, the 31-year-old is prepared to battle his way back into contention for international duties and to secure more regional honours for Trinidad and Tobago.

Ramdin had sustained injuries to his right shoulder during the 2016 Tri-Nations ODIs series in the Caribbean, that involved reigning World Cup champs Australia and top-ranked South Africa.

He subsequently aggravated the injury during West Indies versus Pakistan ODIs series.

As captain of Trinidad and Tobago, Ramdin had set a unique West Indies regional record with a hat-trick of Caribbean T20 titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Ramdin also played significant roles in Trinidad and Tobago winning back-to-back NAGICO Super50 titles in 2015 and 2016.

Disappointing performances by most members of the Red Force team sees them languishing at the bottom of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day competition, forcing the selectors to change the composition of the team for the Super50 series.