The 2017 domestic cricket season will bowl off today at venues across the country with the top eight clubs in the land, battling in the National League Premiership competition from 10.30am.
Defending champions Queen’s Park Cricket Club will be on the road to Victoria United and this game takes place deep south in Barrackpore. The Oval men will be boosted by the presence of West Indies Test batsman Darren Bravo who has been banned from playing in the regional Super50 by Cricket West Indies (CWI) but will be playing locally. The left hander is just one talent in a star-studded Parkite outfit that would again start the season as favourites to lift the title.
Two other powerful teams in PowerGen and Merryboys will square off at the Brian Lara Recreation ground in Santa Cruz. Merryboys ground in Diego Martin is still under construction and hence they would use the Santa Cruz facility as their home venue for this clash. In other matches, Alescon Comets will miss the services of three of their top all rounders in Rayad Emrit, Imran Khan and Roshon Primus when they host Tableland at Pierre Road in Charlieville. The trio are on national duties with the T&T Red Force in the Super50.
Down South, First Citizens Clarke Road will come up against newly promoted Central Sports at Wilson Road. Central Sports with the veteran Shazan Babwah still turning out runs has worked hard to get into the top flight and they would want to make it count.
Chairman of the national league committee Patrick Rampersad speaking to Guardian Media said :”Everything is set for cricket tomorrow and we are happy that the clubs have put things in place to get the season on the way on time. We are looking forward to an excellent season as we have grown accustomed to and we at the TTCB will continue to liaise with the clubs to ensure that things run smoothly. I want to wish all the clubs well and remind them that winning is not everything and development is always more important.”
President of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath is also wishing the clubs well, saying that he wants to see the standard of cricket improve at this level, so that the results can improve at the national level. “We have a very good national league but I would like to see this improve even more. When we have great quality coming from our leagues then we can consistently put out national teams that will do well on the regional scene.”
NATIONAL PREMIERSHIP I ROUND ONE
PowerGen vs Merryboys at Brian Lara Rec Santa Cruz.
Victoria vs Queen’s Park at Barrackpore.
Comets vs Tableland at Pierre Road Charlieville.
Clarke Road vs Central Sports at Wilson Road in Penal.