"Seeing the accomplishments of Denesh Ramdin and the rest of the team (there) was a level of pride and excitement that I've never experienced before."
Watching the team he led as recently as three months ago on TV did not diminish Daren Ganga's appreciation for what Trinidad and Tobago achieved at the 2012 Caribbean T20 tournament, which ended on Sunday in Barbados.
"Here it was, I was in a position taking in a bird's-eye view of everything we have built and every system we have put in place in T20 cricket, and to see a structure work and to see the dominance of our style of play and the manner in which we play Twenty/20 cricket proves to me that all the standards we set ourselves really and truly have given us the benchmark that is comparable to world standards," Ganga told the Express yesterday.
"All credit must go to the players, the captain, the technical team for being able to execute, which is the most critical thing in any cricket match. It was the first time I've experienced that feeling (from the outside) and it brought a certain level of pride to me as a player."
T&T, under Ramdin, retained their title–won in 2011 under Ganga–with a comprehensive 63-run victory over Jamaica in the final at Kensington Oval.
Ganga, whose resignation from the captaincy after nine years was belatedly shrouded in controversy, was not a part of the national squad for the tournament played in Antigua/Barbuda and Barbados.
Asked if he felt any regret as he watched the team lift the trophy, Ganga replied: "Obviously, every single Trinidad and Tobago player would love to be there at the end lifting a trophy for Trinidad and Tobago...it's a natural part of every sports person to want to receive that glory. But, at the same time, I recognised that I had my limitations because of my injury and it was important for Trinidad and Tobago to have other players continue all the systems we have built."
Since the end of the Champions League campaign in India last October, Ganga has been suffering with a back complaint that has seen him visit two specialists.
He has been cleared of serious injury by the doctors and said: "For the last week or so since I came back from my responsibilities as a sports ambassador in India, I've been batting in the nets, I've been taking my occasional jogs and working within a pain-free limitation."
He is expected to get a final word on playing again today.
Ganga has not been included in any of the national trial matches in preparation for the start of the Regional Four-Day competition, which begins next Friday.
However, he said: "The long and short of it is we are waiting on Dr (Anil) Gopeesingh and his recommendations and the chairman (of TTCB selectors, Dudnath Ramkessoon) has indicated his willingness to include me in preparation and training for the new season. Only time and fitness is going to determine my participation."
The ex-skipper again stated his desire to keep playing for T&T.
"I've always told myself that before I end playing cricket, rather than lead, I would love to contribute as a player and support the next leader of Trinidad and Tobago's cricket and that is exactly what I want to do."
Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com
By Garth Wattley