Huge turnout expected for Hurricane Relief T20

First vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Dr Allen Sammy is expecting a great response from the public at Saturday’s Hurricane Relief T20 cricket match at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

The initiative of the TTCB, the Sports Company and Queen’s Park Cricket Club, will bring together some of the biggest names in the shortest format of the game when a Darren Sammy Caribbean XI face the might of the Red Force led by hard-hitting allrounder Kieron Pollard.

At the official launch of the match, it was announced that organisers are hoping to raise more than $1 million to assist the victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Dominica, Barbuda and St Maarten.

Tickets, available at all NLCB Lotto outlets, have been priced at just $100 each, and children under the age of 12 will be granted free entry to the venue. The match is timed to start at 7 pm.

Sammy said that he is expecting a bumper crowd as the National League clubs – representing the highest level of the game – are expected to mobilise their support and contribute to the noble cause.

“Apart from the contribution being made by the top-class cricketers, the local cricket clubs must come out with their supporters, from the towns and villages to make the event a success,” said Sammy.

Apart from the Hurricane Relief match, an FCB account #2441289 has been opened and donations are invited to help swell the effort as our fellow Caribbean people are in dire need because of the devastating natural disaster.

On match night, collection bins will also be strategically placed for those also wishing to contribute canned foodstuff, clothes, toiletries and other items which can assist the victims.

Also, making a strident plea for support of the venture was Baldath Mahabir, an executive member of the TTCB who said that he is also counting on community and religious groups to show their humanity and sympathy for the relief effort.

Mahabir said that natural disasters can strike at any time and do not discriminate so the TT public must not be shy of using whatever available resources, through donations, corporate and private support, and attendance at the Hurricane Relief T20 to show unity and support for their less fortunate regional brothers and sisters.

Pollard will lead a star-studded side that includes mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine, brothers Darren and Dwayne Bravo, along with former Test captain Denesh Ramdin and attacking batsman Lendl Simmons.

Evin Lewis, the hard-hitting West Indies T20 sensation and One-Day International opener, is also in the line-up along with the exciting wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran, and Windies limited overs player Jason Mohammed.The Invitational XI will feature T20 batting star Dwayne Smith, former Windies speedster Fidel Edwards and limited overs off-spinner Ashley Nurse.

Jamaica Olympic medallist, sprinter Yohan Blake, will also be a part of the line-up.

Mahabir, a member of the local organising committee for the match, said the TT players are anxious to participate in the venture.

Red Force Squad:

Kieron Pollard (captain), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul, Kevon Cooper, Rayad Emrit, Jason Mohammed, Shannon Gabriel.

Caribbean All Stars:

Dwayne Smith (Barbados), Johnson Charles (St Lucia), Andre Fletcher (Grenada), Chadwick Walton (Jamaica), Andre Mc Carthy (Jamaica), Rovman Powell (Jamaica), Daren Sammy (St Lucia), Ashley Nurse (Barbados), Sulieman Benn (Barbados), Kesrick Williams (St Vincent & Grenadines), Fidel Edwards (Barbados), Jerome Taylor (Jamaica), Shane Shillingford (Dominica) and Yohan Blake (Jamaica).