Captains drafted for second Trinidad T10 Blast

PRESIDENT of the TT Cricket Board Azim Bassarath has described the draft process for the second edition of the TTCB/Dream 11-sponsored Trinidad T10 Blast as a giant step for transparency.

The first stage of the process to select the captains of the six teams in the tournament was conducted on Tuesday in the presence of the franchise owners at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

Bassarath said the draft was a response to concerns raised after the first tournament earlier this year to ensure that all stakeholders will be satisfied with how the competition is run.

“The board felt that in the best interest of all that a draft is done along the lines of what takes place all around the world,” he said.

Firstly lots were drawn by representatives of the six teams for the order in which they would then pick their captains, whose names were in sealed envelopes.

And in a stroke of coincidence, Red Force team captain Imran Khan was drawn to once again lead defending champions Steelpan Strikers, sponsored by Fine Choice Meats Limited when the tournament bowls off on June 8.

Khan is also the captain of Central Sports, whose owner/coach is Richard Ramkissoon who also will be in charge of the Steelpan Strikers.

The other team leaders drawn were Rayad Emrit (Blue Devils Scorpion Titans), Jason Mohammed (Jagessar Group of Companies Soca Kings), Terrance Hinds (Valini’s Drug Mart Leatherback Giants), Tion Webster (FIDES Ltd Scarlet Ibis Scorchers), Denesh Ramdin (Tiger Tanks Unlimited Cocrico Cavaliers).

Bassarath said that there will be two matches per day at noon and 2.30 pm at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba with the tournament running from June 8-24.

The champions will receive $100,000 with the first runners-up getting $50,000, and the losing semi-finalists awarded $20,000 each.

The second stage of the draft will be held on May 31 from 10.30 am at the National Cricket Centre when the teams will be finalised.