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T&T team here to win DJ Stress 20/20 Festival

Jul 03, 2010 Sports

Nagamootoo not afraid of big name players

By Sean Devers
Having led his Trinidad club side Moosie Sports Club to promotion to Trinidad’s division one status this season, former Guyana and West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo feels his side can upset favorites New Line Cavaliers in today’s semi-final of the DJ Stress 20/20 cricket tournament at the Guyana National Stadium.
Moosai will play the 2nd semi-final from 13:30hrs after Georgetown Pitbulls and the Berbice Titans face-off from 10:00hrs in the first semi-final and the 34-year-old Nagamootoo, who took 12 wickets including that of Sachin Tendulkar, from his 5 Tests, knows his team is in for a tough test.
‘Yeah we are in for a big fight. They (Cavaliers) have all the big guns, Gayle, Samuels, Simmons… plus some very aggressive local batsmen like Andrew Lyght (Jr) and Gajanand Singh. Their Captain (Andre Percival) is a very good leader, but in 20/20 cricket anything can happen and we are here to win,” Nagamootoo, who played his last Test in India 8 years, ago told Kaieteur Sports.
The Trinidad side, which arrived at the Princess Hotel early Saturday morning, includes West Indies 20/20 player William Perkins and although they don’t have big name players, their Coach, 54-year-old Aniel Raja, the former T&T left-hander with 3 First-Class centuries to his name, said that unity as a team is his side’s strength.
Nagamootoo, who has the most Regional First-Class wickets, last played for Guyana in 2008 and playing against Cavaliers could place extra pressure on the leg-spinning all-rounder, who scored a Test fifty against Australia.
Nagamootoo has been playing with Cavaliers in Guyana’s domestic cricket since he moved from Berbice but opted to play for his Trinidad club in this competition. ‘Coming against the house’ today could be a massive test to Nagamootoo’s mental strength as much as bowling to Gayle, Samuels, Simmons and company in a 20/20 match could provide a stern test to his ability with the ball.
“Cricket is all about bat and ball and not names. We don’t have big name players but we have worked really hard as a team this season and once we get to the final we should win this thing. I have dismissed Gayle before so let’s see what happens on Sunday (today),” Nagamootoo said.
Former Guyana under-19 Captain Troy Cornelius is also in the Moosie team and if the club from the twin Island Republic wins the $500,000 first prize they will donate all of the money to a Guyanese Charity.

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