Poor Red Force squad selected

THE EDITOR: No Pooran, no problem.

I note the squad selection for the upcoming Super 50 tournament announced by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

I would like to express my disappointment with this squad and revive Daren Ganga’s take on some of the players favoured for selection for national duty.

Firstly, Jason Mohammed does not deserve to be in the squad: his average is poor as a top-order batsman. Daren Bravo’s career in national colours should be over; he has wasted his potential, and has been given many opportunities to revive his career, to no avail.

Tony Cozier called it a while back, no need to repeat it. Terrance Hinds, what’s his role in the team? Perhaps a good lad in the set-up or a professional at carrying drinks? Please prove us wrong.

It’s time to start tapering Sunil Narine’s involvement in national colours. Same with Imran Khan. Agreed, David Furlonge, it’s not TKR, so how is Mark Deyal selected as a batsman ahead of Cephas Cooper, who was the Premiership Division's best batsman?

Ganga highlighted these issues not too long ago. The Red Force should be looking to prioritise opportunities to players like Vikash Mohan, Jyd Goolie, Amir Jangoo and Kissoondath Magram, who have been impressive domestically.

Even batsmen such as Kirstan Kallicharan (haven’t heard about him in a while) and Andrew Rambaran should be eased into the Red Force set-up to harness their talent and possibly push on for West Indies selection.

It is imperative that we groom young, emerging talent to maintain a high level of performance in whichever competition.

We can add Anderson Phillip to the list, unless he is unavailable due to injury, to reach the levels of Joshua Da Silva, Jayden Seales and Akeal Hosein.

Our succession planning is horrendous. Experience ought not to be a guarantee to selection: it is current performance on the field that matters. If they’re good enough, they’re old enough. How else should emerging players get experience? We've got to baptise them.

KENDELL KARAN

Chaguanas