Khan to manage Red Stripe Bowl team

Omar Khan, PowerGen’s Corporate Communications Manager has been chosen to  manage the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team at this year’s Red Stripe Bowl regional limited overs cricket tournament.

This was disclosed by a source close to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) yesterday. “Khan is the overwhelming choice as manager of the TT team. The players felt very comfortable with him during the Carib Beer series and an assessment of his performance gave the Board no choice but to return him as manager,” the source said. Khan was first appointed manager of the team for the Carib Beer regional tournament and although the team failed to lift the title that has eluded them since 1986, he was able to instill in the players a work ethic that has already started bearing fruit.

The TTCB are still to decide on a coach as former Test player Phil Simmons who handled the duties during the Carib Beer series is still to make himself available for the position. The TTCB are awaiting word from Simmons before they make a decision. Last year Ian Bishop was coach while manager was former TT and West Indies player Dudnath Ramkeesoon. TT will begin their challenge for the regional limited overs title in October in Jamaica and the trial squad will be chosen one month before the series starts. The national selectors will be awaiting the end of the TCL Group Regional Under-19 tournament before calling players to
trials.

In related news, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are likely to name a regional Under-19 team for the Red Stripe Bowl, following in the footsteps of the Under-23 development team that played in the Carib Beer series. This team will be named after the U-19 series in Guyana has ended. The reasoning behind the decision is that the Board will like to give the youngsters much needed practise ahead of the International Cricket Council  (ICC) U-19 series next year.