GUYANA’S Under-13 cricketers are set to make an historic first visit to TT for a series of matches from July 30-August 9 as guests of the TT Cricket Board (TTCB).
The tour is a reciprocal initiative following the Guyana Cricket Board’s hosting the TT Under-13 team late last year which was described as beneficial for the development of cricket in the region.
Azim Bassarath, president of the TTCB and vice-present of Cricket West Indies, hopes that the exchange will sow the seeds of a regional Under-13 tournament in the near future.
“Both the TTCB and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are in agreement that the Under-13 level is where potential West Indies players are first identified and their talent must be nurtured at this early stage,” said Bassarath in announcing the tour.
It was on the CWI vice-president’s suggestion to his Guyanese counterpart last year that the reciprocal tour originated and which it is hoped will be a regular fixture on the cricket calendar.
At the time, president of the GCB president Bissoondyal Singh, said he was optimistic that the Under-13 exchange will kickstart his territory’s age-group development programme which it currently does not have.
In contrast, the TTCB youth development programme encompasses sponsored inter-zone tournaments for the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 age groups.
Additionally, the Under-23s have been involved in competition to maintain their prospects of being considered for Red Force selection to participate in regional tournaments.
Bassarath said he was happy to lend support to the GCB in their effort to ignite an Under-13 programme, similar to the TTCB, since both territories have much to contribute to the resuscitation of the West Indies fortunes on the international stage.
The teams will be engaged in head to head matches over 40-overs on August 2, 4, 6 and 8 at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva.
Reyad Jerome has been chosen to captain the TT Under-13 team.
The cricketers will also be special guests at the West Indies versus India One-Day, and T20 Internationals on August 1 and 3, both at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Additionally the youngsters will have two days for guided tours of places of interest before departing on August 9.
TT UNDER-13 SQUAD
Reyad Jerome (captain), Keshav Mongru, Justin Pamphille, Davis Guerra, Samir Boodoo, Nityum Mongru, Zion Phillip, Abdiel Boland, Shaheen Khan, K’Hill Thomas, Jordan Julien, Jaden Seurattan, Jayden Sadaphal, Adrian Singh.
Reserves: Bradley Jaggernauth, Sanjiv Bachu, Elijah Ashton
Manager: Azard Mohammed
Coach: Kenneth Samuel
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