Rampaul fit to play in Champions League

Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), Aug 28 (IANS/CMC) West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul has recovered from an ankle injury and should be available to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the Champions League Twenty20 in India next month.

Rampaul, who was selected for the Jamaica Tallawahs team for the inaugural Caribbean Premier League CPLT20, was ruled out of the competition after sustaining an ankle injury during the Tri-Nation series featuring West Indies, India and Sri Lanka, reports CMC.

Dudnath Ramkessoon, chairman of selectors, said Rampaul has recovered from the injury, but did not confirm if the pacer will be involved in warm-up matches against Guyana this weekend.

The Trinidad and Tobago squad will meet Guyana in two matches under lights at the Providence Stadium in Guyana with the first Friday at 7 p.m. and the other Saturday at the same time.

Rampaul was invited to celebrate with the Tallawahs after they defeated Guyana in the CPLT20 final at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain last week.

Trinidad and Tobago, who were forced to put their preparations on hold after most of their players won places in the various franchises, reassemble this week to start final preparations for the Champions League T20.

Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the third straight year by completing a hat-trick of Caribbean T20 titles.

They have also earned direct entry into the group stage after playing in the qualifiers in 2011 and 2012.

The Trinidadians are in Group B along with Brisbane Heat, Chennai Super Kings, Titans and the second-ranked team from the CLT20 2013 Qualifiers.

Trinidad and Tobago face Brisbane Heat in their first match Sep 22.

--IANS/CMC

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