Coach optimistic Fatima can defend Powergen 50-over title

Fatima, which have been training since October, lost seven players from the team that won the title in 2016. Last year’s captain Donovan Clayton, former West Indies U-19 player Amir Jangoo, Anand Lochan and Daniel Brown are among the players who have left the school.

Paty still has hope that his team can have a solid season.

“We have a good bunch of boys coming up, we still have Jean- Paul Rocke who will be the captain this year, I have Brandon Maharaj still, I have Wendell George and I have young Michael Ambard who is a national Under-17 player.” Paty added, “I brought in Giovanni Letren who is a national U-17 player, so I mean we have a decent team still so we should be able to at least cope, we will try and defend the title as best as we could.

This is schools cricket so it is always a bit of a cycle. You never know what the boys will do, we still optimistic (and) I still think they will do aright.” Paty is confident that some of the younger players on the squad will step up to the challenge of premier division cricket.

Paty says their are many teams that can challenge Fatima for the crown this season.

“I think Hillview is the main competition and Naps (Naparima) is always there, I think Barrackpore (West) also has a good team this year.” The 2017 season will bowl off with the Super Sixes tournament on January 19 while round one of the 50-over tournament will be played on January 24. Fatima play Trinity East in the opening round.