Ramdin, Rampaul available for remainder of first class season

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jan 23, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s first class campaign will be bolstered by the presence of veterans Denesh Ramdin and Ravi Rampaul, for the second half of the season.
Patrick Rampersad, the third vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, confirmed that the duo would be available when the four-day championship resumed on March 10.
“We understand from discussions that Denesh Ramdin has given the word that he will continue to play for the rest of the season with us, as well as fast bowler Ravi Rampaul,” he told the Guardian newspaper here.
Both players have already been included in the Red Force 14-man squad for the Regional Super50 which bowls off in Barbados and Antigua this week.
Ramdin, a former West Indies captain, has played 74 Tests and 139 One-Day Internationals while Rampaul has turned out in 18 Tests and 92 ODIs.
In a Red Force side filled with inexperienced players, the pair will be a welcome boost.
Red Force have made a disastrous start to the first class season, losing three of their first five games to sit bottom of the six-team standings on 35.6 points.
They opened their campaign positively with a nine-wicket victory over Windward Islands Volcanoes but then slumped badly with a series of lacklustre performances.
Red Force have been weakened by the unavailability of their leading players but Rampersad said he remained confident the franchise would soon have their strongest side to choose from.
“I don’t think it is a situation that the senior players don’t want to play for their country, I think it is the contrary,” the official contended.
“They want to play and they will once the opportunity presents itself. Dwayne Bravo is injured, Darren Bravo has his situation with the Cricket West Indies and I am sure once dealt with he will be back with us.
“I am confident that the best talent will be on display for the rest of the professional cricket league when it gets going again.”
Red Force face Volcanoes in the sixth round of the four-day championship at the National Stadium in Grenada, from March 10-13.