Red Force skipper Khan, Simmons return for Pride match

IMRAN KHAN will return to the helm of the TT Red Force for their West Indies Four-Day Championship round four clash against Barbados Pride which bowls off at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, on Wednesday, from 10 am.

Khan was forced to miss the team’s match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes last week at Diego Martin Sporting Complex after contracting covid19, with his deputy Joshua Da Silva leading the team in his absence.

The Red Force will be eager to regain their winning form. After defeating Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes earlier in the season, Red Force lost to Hurricanes by 187 runs.

The title race is expected to go down to the wire with two rounds left as the Pride (47.2 points) are closely followed in the standings by second placed Hurricanes (46.4), Red Force (43) and Guyana Harpy Eagles (41.4). The four teams all have two wins and a loss after three matches.

Jamaica Scorpions are fifth on 29.6 points with one win and two losses and Volcanoes are last with 15.6 points after losing their first three matches.

Khan is elated to be back in the team.

“It feels good (to be back). I am not fully back yet (because) I still have to do another covid19 test (on Tuesday night), but I am negative as is…looking forward to the game (on Wednesday).”

Khan wants the Red Force to rebound after losing to the Hurricanes. “It is a bit unfortunate what happened in the last game. We did not want that result, but it happened. The table is open still. Everyone is a couple points apart, so this game is a very crucial game.

“(The Pride) is a really strong team. They play competitive cricket, so I think it is just important for us to execute our plans and have a good game overall.”

Opener Keagan Simmons, who was also forced out of the match due to covid19, has returned to the 15-man squad.

All-rounders Terrance Hinds and Jyd Goolie have also been recalled and left-arm medium pace bowler Shaaron Lewis has received a first-time call up.

The trio of Akeal Hosein, Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales will not be available because of West Indies duty. West Indies will play The Netherlands in a three-match One Day International series in The Netherlands starting on May 31.

Opener Tion Webster has been overlooked for the Pride match.

Khan described Lewis as a “promising” player who has been “working very hard on his game.”

SQUADS –

RED FORCE: Imran Khan (captain), Keagan Simmons, Jeremy Solozano, Jason Mohammed, Joshua Da Silva, Yannic Cariah, Khary Pierre, Bryan Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Terrance Hinds, Shaaron Lewis, Darren Bravo, Uthman Muhammad, Jyd Goolie, Isaiah Rajah.

PRIDE: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Ramon Simmonds, Jomel Warrican, Camarie Boyce, Justin Greaves, Miguel Cummins, Jonathan Drakes.