AFTER being delayed by the passage of Hurricane Beryl earlier this week, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Men's Under-19 Championship will now begin on July 11 in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
The tournament was scheduled to begin on July 2, with a three-day competition preceding a 50-over tournament. However, those plans were altered as Beryl made its way through the Caribbean – with Grenadian isle Carriacou and SVG's Canouan, Mayreau and Union Islands among the territories which felt the brunt of the devastating system.
On July 3, a Facebook post from SVG prime minister Ralph Gonsalves read, "We will build it back! We will comfort, console, clothe, shelter and feed our people.
"They are us and we are them. In solidarity with our friends and allies, we will rebuild the Southern Grenadines better and stronger and more resilient."
The TT team was scheduled to depart these shores on June 30 ahead of their opening match on July 2 versus Leeward Islands. However, as of the night of July 4, team manager Kerwin John said the team was still in Trinidad awaiting the new flight plan and amended schedule for the competition.
John said the tournament's new start date was confirmed on July 4, and the players were eager to go out and show their worth.
"Since the postponement, the coach, Brian Browne, has been having daily training at the National Cricket Centre, Couva," John said.
John was asked how he would rate the team's chances at the tournament.
"I'm not one who's in favour of doing that. Individuals will be in charge of their own individual performances, and if the guys play to their full potential, we will be able to compete with any other team."
John said the team is quite talented, and he reckons the team's final standing in the tournament will be dictated by the players' application and execution once they cross the boundary rope.
Jamaica walked away with both under-19 titles– 50-over and three-day competitions – last year.
TT squad: Olando James (captain), Andrew Rambaran (vice-captain), Jacen Agard, Fareez Ali, Luke Ali, Verran Batchu, Kavir Boodoosingh, Joshua Davis, Justin Jagessar, Kevin Kanhai, Aidan Racha, Kyle Ramdoo, Aneal Rooplal, Abdul Toppin.
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