PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago has suffered a further setback ahead of their regional four-day match against the Leeward Islands, which bowls off today at Warner Park, St Kitts.

The Trinidadians, who have already lost key players due to their commitments with West Indies and the Bangladesh Premier League, will now be without in-form batsman Jason Mohammed, as well as pacer Shannon Gabriel and batsman Lendl Simmons.

Mohammed has returned to Trinidad to receive treatment for a strained hamstring, while Simmons and Gabriel were called up to join the West Indies team for the ongoing home series against Zimbabwe.

“There are some inexperienced players, but there are also some experienced guys in the squad,” said Omar Khan, the Trinidad and Tobago manager.

“It is an opportunity for the younger players to establish themselves and for the senior players to really step up their game.”

As a result, T&T have been forced to make five changes ahead of today’s encounter.

Wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo, pacer Teshawn Castro, along with spinners Amit Jaggernauth, Kavesh Kantasingh and Imran Khan, have joined the T&T squad in St Kitts.

Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran and Samuel Badree have returned home following T&T’s three-wicket win over the Leewards in their Regional Super50 match at Warner Park on Sunday.

Yannick and Kjorn Ottley, who were called in for the Super50 match, will also remain in the squad for the four-day game.

The Ottley brothers, along with Katwaroo, have yet to represent their side in regional four-day cricket.

“We have to manage the players and the changes. Simmons and Gabriel will join the West Indies team and we have new players coming in,” Khan said.

“At the end of the day, they are all professionals. Kjorn and Yannick were part of the 50 overs side, but they are also new to the T&T four-day team, so we might see a few players making their four-day debut for T&T.”