Caribbean Sports Network

Executive member of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Baldath Mahabir revealed yesterday that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Academy has been progressing smoothly. Mahabir played an important role in setting up the inaugural academy before the programme was stopped and has been vibrant its reintroduction.

“Everything has been excellent. The input and the 18 cricketers have been progressing well” said Mahabir yesterday.

The technical team is headed by WICB Territorial Development Officer, Kumar Rampat and includes experienced cricketers Kelvin Williams, Gordon Greenidge, Suruj Ragoonath and Roland Sampath.

“The batting is being handled by Gordon Greenidge and Tony Grey” revealed Mahabir.

The former TTCB first vice-president praised West Indies legend Greenidge for the role he has played with the young cricketers.

“At the academy we have sessions with the players where they are asked to do self assessment of the themselves and the work done. All the players were in high praise of Gordon Greenidge’s input. Gordon has been part of the planning process and the implementation. We (TTCB) felt that to have a resource as his here was something we could not waste.

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) must be congratulated because they are his full time employers and they have been helpful in making his services available to us” Mahabir said. The top cricket administrator noted that the TTCB’s academy could not be compared to the Sagicor High Performance Centre implemented by the WICB earlier this year.

“The two academies cannot be compared because the High Performance Centre is full time and ours is part time with the players coming in on weekends. Ours is a satellite for the High Performance Centre and we are preparing players for that centre and the national team” stated Mahabir. Mahabir revealed that the group of players currently at the academy are very talented with several already challenging for places on the Trinidad and Tobago team and others close to selection.

“Kevon Cooper is a member of the academy and he is already in the national setup, playing in the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament and was recently selected for the West Indies limited overs tournament.

Daniel St Clair who is a left-handed pacer was in the national team when they played Twenty20 matches to aid Guyana’s preparation for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

There is also Nicholas Alexis and Stephen Katwaroo who have both played for the national Under-19 team and Akiel Cooper who has been in national trials” said Mahabir.

He added “This is a good group of cricketers and they need to grasp the opportunity given to them. They are a talented bunch and soon they will be looking to cement a place on the Trinidad and Tobago team.”