New selector welcomed on national cricket panel

The former TT middle-order batsman was named to replace former West Indies all-rounder Bernard Julien in the panel headed by former TT and West Indies youth captain Dudnath Ramkessoon.

“I want to see players develop into regional and international cricketers. I am elated at my appointment, and I trust that I will make a meaningful contribution to the further development of cricket in TT and by extension, the region,” Bidhesi said.

The soft-spoken Bidhesi was appointed a junior selector in 1999 and held the position until he was elevated to be part of the senior selection panel by the newly elected executive of the TT Cricket Board. He tastes his first piece of action as a senior selector on Monday, when the panel meets to select four teams for trial matches in preparation for next year’s Carib Beer Series which bowls off on January 4.

Former Test spinner Raphick Jumadeen, the other member of the selection panel, has praised the executive of the local board on Bidhesi’s promotion.

“I will welcome him with both arms and whatever experience I have gathered in the past will surely be passed on to him,” Jumadeen said.

“I think he has done a tremendous job as a junior selector and will be an asset on the senior panel.”

A right-handed batsman Bidhesi played in 11 First Class matches for TT and scored 354 runs with a highest score of 57.