The West Indies Cricket Board has again invited Canada to the 1999 RED STRIPE competition. The following members of the National Squad will represent Canada in this competition.

Captain Joseph Harris, Vice-Captain Brian Rajadurai, Ashish Bagai, wkpr. Desmond Chumney, George Codrington, Melvin Croning, Muneeb (Sammy) Diwan, Davis (Josee) Joseph, Damian Mills, Sukhjinder Rana, Kevin Sandher, Vivian Sailsman, Zubin Surkari and Sanjayan Thuraisingam. Management /team officials are Karam Gopaulsingh, Austin Ward and Cricket Manager Jeff Thomas. Veteran Paul Prashad was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the team due to personal and family responsibilities.

Newcomers to the squad are Ashish Bagai, Melvin Croning, Damian Mills, Kevin Sandher, Vivian Sailsman and Zubin Surkari. Bagai, Mills, Surkari and Sandher are graduates of the CCA's junior development programme and have all represented Canada at the Nortel and other junior international tournaments.

The team left for the Leewards via Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico and were delayed by the ravages and rains of hurricane Jose'. Two warm up games slated for St. Maarten had to be postponed. The team has had to improvise and adjust with the aid and outstanding support of the WICB, the Leeward Islands and the St. Maarten's Cricket Associations.

The CCA extends sincere thanks to Imran McSood Amjad, President of the S.M.C.A and to David Kenworthy, Secretary of the Leeward Islands C.A. Jose created totally unpredictable and unexpected problems which these gentlemen and the WICB in Antigua had to overcome. McSood's absolutely outstanding support and personal contributions have been above and beyond the call of duty.

At last word the team has all now been safely housed at the team hotel in St. Maarten and will practice and play at least one game before travelling to Antigua for their first game against Barbados. It is almost certain that the Leewards segment of the event, will be rain delayed by about 2 or 3 days. Antigua was badly affected by the hurricane but the show goes on. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" CCA's own Josee and the other team members will be surely itching to get going.

Canada will probably play their first tournament game against Barbados next Saturday in Antigua, before taking on both Trinidad & Tobago and then the Leewards in Anguilla early the following week. Keep tuned for reports as they are received.

Forward and ever onward to ICC 2001 and beyond. Good luck Canada.

© CCA