REIGNING first-class champions Jamaica and limited-over kingpins Trinidad and Tobago will clash in the preliminary round of the October 12-24 regional President's Cup to be hosted here.

Both teams are placed in Zone One and will face each other on October 16, which will serve to add early fireworks to the competition.

The Windward Islands and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) are the other two teams in the group after the fixture was revealed to the Sunday Observer.

Guyana and Barbados are favourites to advance from Zone Two, which also comprises of the Leeward Islands and a Development Squad from High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) based in Barbados.

The Guyanese, expected to be led by Ramnaresh Sarwan, will take on Barbados a day after the Jamaica-T&T encounter in a fixture duplicated from last year's competition.

However, the Jamaicans are hoping for a change in fortune and results as they finished last year's rain-affected competition, held in Guyana, at the bottom of group which was topped by eventual champions Trinidad, who won the title for the second straight year.

Jamaica begin their quest for an eighth regional 50-over crown on October 14 against the Windward Islands, before tackling the defending champions two days later.

The hosts will then play their last preliminary-round match against the CCC on October 18.

While the dates for the games have been formalised, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is yet to make official the specific venues that will host particular matches, except for the final.

Jamaica last won the West Indies limited-over competition in 2007 over arch-rivals Trinidad, who turned the tables in 2008, winning by three wickets.

After being informed of the draw national coach Junior Bennett told the Sunday Observer that his team will be putting their best foot forward and will not be taking any opponent lightly.

"I think it's the toughest of the draws. The CCC have been an improving team in the one-dayers, but we definitely have to go out there and play some good cricket," Bennett said, noting that "everything comes down to preparation".

Based on the draw, the region's two most successful teams at present could meet in the October 24 final slated for Sabina Park.

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments