Ex-TT star gives something back

Former top Trinidad and Tobago leg-spinner Ganesh Mahabir wants to help young cricketers improve their skills. Mahabir was TT’s hero in 1985 when the national senior team won the Shell Shield, emblem of regional First Class supremacy. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 30 victims (five matches) to his name and bowled TT to its third regional title. He has also played Division One cricket for Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Moosai’s Sports Club, For the past 18 years the senior team has failed to regain top regional honours. Mahabir completed his regional First Class career with 100 wickets and was the fastest to the coveted triple figures among those who had preceded him. He is still actively involved in Division Two competitions. And during the 2003 season, he appeared for the British American Aranguez Sports Club, which was promoted to this level for the first time. He has the desire to help younger players and share his knowledge.

“Cricket has been a seasonal thing in this country. And I think we have to change that trend by making it a year-round programme where the players will be able to develop and become better. They should be practising and experimenting when the competition season is over,” Mahabir said. “From January to May, players are involved in different levels of competition but they need to work on their overall improvement during the off-season. There is need for more specialised training and those who work hard at improving their game will develop faster and get better results,” the spinner said. Seeking to help those younger players who are interested in improving their game, Mahabir decided to hold coaching clinics every Saturday at the Aranguez Sports Club ground. The first session starts this Saturday from 3 pm. All players and parents who are interested can contact Mahabir at 645-0202. The clinic will last for 26 weeks and is open to all players from eight years to 15-years-old.