Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper have been added to Trinidad and Tobago’s roster for the upcoming regional T20 tournament in April. The squad aims to strengthen its pace attack following the draft, which included several notable selections. The tournament will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, featuring teams from various regions.
West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva and talented opener Cephas Cooper have been selected for Trinidad and Tobago’s squad for the Cricket West Indies’ upcoming regional Twenty20 tournament, scheduled to occur from April 25 to May 9. The squad, comprising 14 players, will be known as the TT Legions and aims to enhance its pace attack following the confirmation of its seven initial protected picks.
Those seven protected players include Navin Bidaisee, Jyd Goolie, CPL champion Mikkel Govia, Joshua James, Kamil Pooran, Crystian Thurton, and Amir Jangoo, who made his One-Day International debut in December and subsequently his Test debut against Pakistan in January.
To complete their roster, Trinidad and Tobago also selected all-rounder Damion Joachim, and seamers McKenny Clarke, Johann Layne, Shaaron Lewis, and Abdul-Raheem Toppin during the draft held on February 24. Clarke and Layne have CPL experience with the St Lucia Kings and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, respectively.
Lewis, a 26-year-old left-arm pacer, played for Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2022 CPL season. He notably dismissed Jangoo during a match against Jamaica Tallawahs in St Lucia. Although specific details from CWI regarding the draft are limited, a Trinidad and Tobago representative confirmed the selected players.
The tournament is set to take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, featuring teams from various territorial boards, including Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Caimans, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, and Windward Islands Infernos. Each squad will consist of 14 players, primarily under 30 years of age.
Teams were permitted to select up to three players aged between 27 and 29; Trinidad and Tobago utilized this option for Goolie, Pooran, and Jangoo. In addition, each team’s squad must include one wrist-spinner, which was fulfilled by Trinidad and Tobago’s selection of 24-year-old leg-spinner Bidaisee.
Prior to the draft, TT Red Force coach Rayad Emrit acknowledged the absence of seamers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip, who are committed to English County Championship contracts during the period of the T20 tournament. Emrit emphasized the importance of the tournament for developing younger talent in the region and suggested expanding the age limit for participation.
In summary, Trinidad and Tobago has finalized its squad for the regional Twenty20 tournament, featuring promising players such as Joshua Da Silva and Cephas Cooper. The team aims to enhance its performance with a strong pace attack and carefully selected individuals, reflecting a strategic approach to player recruitment. The tournament presents an opportunity for the younger generation of cricketers to showcase their skills on a regional platform.
Original Source: newsday.co.tt
