Lara wants pals Yorke and Latapy back for TT

Recently appointed West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara says he would be thrilled to see his friends Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke play for Trinidad and Tobago again. Yorke and Latapy, struggling to satisfy the conflicting demands of club duties in Britain and national representation, retired from international football during the World Cup qualifiers in 2001 following disagreements with then national coach Rene Simoes. The 33-year-old Lara, who will captain the West Indies against Australia in the First Test starting today in Guyana, believes their exit from international football was premature.

“It was such an abrupt end to two superstars who have gone abroad and done very well and have also represented us,” Lara said in a Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) web site report. “They have been a joy to watch and I selfishly would love to see happen again but that is something they will have to decide on,” added Lara, who played for the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-12 football team. Lara, who holds both Test (375) and First-Class (501 not out) batting world records, believes spectators have been “cheated of a few years” of Yorke and Latapy playing for Trinidad and Tobago but said he respects their choice.

“These decisions are not ones all of us would like but we have to respect them. Of course I’d love to see them in national colours again and I know thousands of Trinidadians would love to see Dwight and Russell play for Trinidad and Tobago in whatever capacity again,” he added. Yorke made a huge impact after transferring from Aston Villa to United for a record 12.6 million pounds (US$19.6 million) in August 1998, helping United to the triple with 29 goals. He was named English Premier League Carling “Player of the Year” in the 1998-1999 season. The 31-year-old striker now plays for Blackburn Rovers after a two million pound (US$3.1 million) move from Manchester United where he had lost regular first team play. Latapy, now 35 years old, played successfully in Portugal where he won two championship titles with Porto. He then moved to Scotland where his brilliant midfield play lifted Hibernian from division one to the Premier League. Latapy transferred from Hibernian to Rangers and is now with Dundee United.