'Unfortunate situation' for defending champs

Trinidad and Tobago manager Colin Borde was pleased with the national team's performance in the recently-concluded Champions League Twenty/20 (CLT20) tournament in India, but was concerned about their next assignment in Guyana, starting on Wednesday.

T&T reached the final of the CLT20 on Friday when they lost to New South Wales Blues by 41 runs and just five days later they are scheduled to take on Jamaica in their opening match as they defend their title at the West Indies Cricket Board President's Cup one-day tournament.

"It is an unfortunate situation," stated Borde, referring to the national team only returning to Trinidad tomorrow from India.

"It is going to be very tight after travelling for so long and across so many time zones. The players will not have enough time to adjust themselves to being back in the Caribbean time-zone and we may run the risk of getting injuries because I don't think the body will have enough time be tuned and readjusted.

"I don't think the West Indies Cricket Board anticipated that T&T would be the first team in India and the last team to leave, but so be it. We have a tournament to play and we will work around it.

"It is another trophy to be won and we will approach it in the same way as we did in India and we are definitely going to give it our best shot," the manager insisted.

Of the team composition for the regional tournament, Borde noted there was the real possibility of some of the other players in the training squad in Trinidad replacing some of the members of the returning team.

"The possibility exists and it is something that I think the medical staff, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the players need to discuss. It will be a difficult task and in cricket you have to be keen on raising the bar and we feel confident that we will continue to make T&T proud," he added.

Of their performance in the Champions League, Borde said: "I thought it was excellent work by all the players. We were a little disappointed that we did not finish the job, but coming in to the tournament as 22/1 and surprising everyone by reaching the final was a great effort by the guys.

"It was a great experience and one that the team can build on. We did a wonderful job in winning the hearts of many around the world and of the people in India and I am very satisfied with the overall result.

"They can only benefit from this experience," Borde insisted. "Definitely, the boys have shown a lot of discipline, focus, professionalism and respect for each other as cricketers and they were well led by Daren Ganga and the key point is that they did well collectively as a team and these are things that they will bring back with them."

Of the 15 players who went to India, spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Rayad Emrit were the only two who did not play in the tournament but Borde insisted that they would have also gained valuable knowledge and experience from being around the team in different situations.

"Some of the players were disappointed but they were very supportive in the efforts of the team and I am quite sure the experience on the tour can be good for them as young players. Sunil is a young cricketer and he had been around the team in team meetings and he has understood the way we approach the game. All the players will benefit and the next step is really to use that experience and go forward and grow as a team."

Reflecting on their two weeks in India, the manager said there were many things that stood out for him in the way Trinidad and Tobago performed on the field of play.

"All the games have been special in one way or another.

"In each of the games a different player stepped up to help the team, different players stepped up when the team needed it and that was special for me.

"How the team gelled as a family, how we supported each other as a team was very important to our success and I think once that continues in Trinidad and Tobago cricket then the future will be in good hands," Borde concluded.

The T&T contingent of players and officials will fly home tomorrow, while Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board CEO Forbes Persaud, chairman of selectors Narine Bidhesi and team doctor Terry Ali return today.

-Roger Seepersad