TT based in Jamaica for Red Stripe Bowl

Trinidad and Tobago will be based in Jamaica for this year’s Red Stripe Bowl limited overs cricket series which gets underway from October 1.

This country will be grouped with hosts Jamaica, Canada, The Rest Of The Leewards and  the Windwards champions. A source close to the situation noted, however, that there could be some adjustments made and these will have to be discussed by WICB officials. The tournament is slated to run from October 1 to 19, with the first zonal round being played in Antigua and Jamaica from October 1 to 12. The Final Four will again be played on Jamaica’s north coast, with the semifinals on October 16 and 17 and the final on October 19. There is a possibility that the Windwards could revert to one side and either West Indies “B” (Under-23s) or the West Indies Under-19s could take that slot.

The source said this would make more sense as the Windwards champs have been weak over the years and a developmental side would allow more of the region’s talented players on the horizon  to get exposure. What is working in favour of a West Indies Under-19 side is that the Bowl would serve as early preparation for the International Cricket Council Youth World Cup, which is slated to be played in Bangladesh  in January to February, 2004. The West Indies side for that tournament is to be selected after the TCL Group Tournament in Guyana next month and the Bowl could give the players a first chance to play as a team.

Defending champions Barbados could have a smooth path to the Final 4 during this year’s Red Stripe Bowl Competition. It shows the Bajans coming up against lightweights University of the West Indies, Antigua and Barbuda, Rest Of Windward Islands; with the only real challenge expected from Guyana. In related news Trinidad and Tobago opener Imran Jan who has been performing very well in the English leagues will be coming back in time for trials that will get underway early next month. There were some concerns that the left hander would not be back in time, instead fulfilling his contract in the Durham League, but a source close to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) revealed that he would be back for the warm-up games and trials.