Off-spinner Bryan Charles and wicketkeeper-batter Kemol Savory are set to lead Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Guyana Harpy Eagles, respectively, into action in the opening round of the West Indies Four-Day Championship, as both teams face the challenge of competing without several key players.

The Red Force will take on Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in a day/night encounter at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy starting next Wednesday, while defending champions Harpy Eagles will host Barbados Pride at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.

With regular captain Joshua Da Silva on West Indies Test duty, along with opening batsman Amir Jangoo, Charles has been entrusted with leading a Red Force squad featuring three debutants—batting all-rounder Andrew Rambaran, pacer Aaidan Racha, and wicketkeeper Antonio Gomez.

Seamer Justin Mannick, who made his lone appearance for the Red Force in 2023, also returns to the squad, adding depth to the bowling attack.

The team will rely on Charles’ leadership and a mix of emerging and experienced players, including veteran Jason Mohammed, as they aim for a strong start in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Harpy Eagles, who are without several star players due to international commitments, will count on Savory to guide a 13-man squad also featuring a blend of youth and experience.

Test players Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, and Kevin Sinclair are in Pakistan with the West Indies team, while Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd are unavailable due to T20 franchise obligations. Additionally, fast bowler Shamar Joseph remains sidelined with a shin splints injury.

Despite these absences, the Harpy Eagles boast a strong core, with vice-captain Matthew Nandu, seasoned campaigners Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Veerasammy Permaul, and promising talents like Junior Sinclair, Isai Thorne, and newcomer Thaddeus Lovell in their ranks.

The Harpy Eagles, fresh off their championship triumph last season, will aim to maintain their dominance as they kick off their campaign against the Pride.

Both teams face early challenges but will be determined to showcase their depth and resilience to start the competition on a positive note.

Squads:

Guyana Harpy Eagles: Kemol Savory (captain), Matthew Nandu (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, Junior Sinclair, Veerasammy Permaul, Antony Adams, Nial Smith, Isai Thorne, Richie Looknauth and Thaddeus Lovell

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force – Bryan Charles (Captain), Khary Pierre (Vice-Captain), Vikash Mohan, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Jason Mohammed, Tion Webster, Antonio Gomez, Yannic Cariah, Joshua James, Andrew Rambaran, Justin Mannick, Aaidan Racha