The T&T Red Force management team has decided to go total local for the next regional season, as they did not pick up any foreign players in the Cricket West Indies Professional Players draft on Monday.
Represented by coach Kelvin Williams and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dudnath Ramkeesoon, the Red Force opted for left-hand batsman Isaiah Rajah and the off-spinner Bryan Charles. The two come in to join the 13 'protected' players who were named a while back.
The Red Force that ended second in the West Indies Championships earlier this year did not go for foreign players Kyle Hope from Barbados, who has been with the franchise for the past three years and Jamaican Odean Smith who was with the team last season.
General secretary of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Surujdath Mahabir explained the reason behind the move to go total local. "Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we thought it was safer to stay with the local players. By having foreign players we would have had to bring them in early, house them for a longer time, and all this cost money. These are uncertain times with the Covid 19 and as such, we decided to go the safe way.
"I want to congratulate the two young men who were picked up in the draft in Rajah and Charles and wish them all the best. Both have shown that they have what it takes to perform at the regional level and we are looking forward to great things from them.
T&T Red Force team: Darren Bravo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Isaiah Rajah, Denesh Ramdin, Joshua Da Silva, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales, Bryan Charles, Terrence Hinds, Jeremy Solozano, Keagan Simmons, Akeal Hosein, Anderson Phillip and Uthman Mohammed.