Rajendra Mangalie, the newly appointed chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s national selectors, has expressed confidence in the TT Red Force’s ability to clinch the Cricket West Indies (CWI) CG United Super50 Cup title. The tournament is set to commence in Trinidad this November, and Mangalie, a former opening batsman for Trinidad and Tobago, is optimistic about the team’s chances, particularly given their home advantage. Mangalie, who is joined on the selection committee by Frank Simmons, David Mohammed, Ricardo Paty, and head coach Rayad Emrit, emphasized the importance of assembling a balanced team to continue their proud record in the competition. The Red Force are the defending champions, having won the title in 2023 after a controversial finish last year saw the final forfeited by both Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions. Mangalie highlighted the strong performances in the ongoing trial matches, noting the impressive contributions from players like Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Shaaron Lewis, and Tion Webster, who have already made their mark. He also praised the mix of youth and experience in the squad, which he believes will be crucial in maintaining their dominance in the limited-overs format. Despite the abundance of talent, Mangalie acknowledged the challenges of selecting the final squad but remains focused on giving Trinidad and Tobago the best chance to lift the trophy once more.
