PRIDE and individual objectives are the main factors at stake when Jamaica Scorpions host Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in seventh-round action of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) at Sabina Park.

Play is scheduled to start today at 10:00.

There was a twist in the Scorpions camp yesterday afternoon when news broke that Captain Paul Palmer was dropped from the 13-man squad by the Wavell Hinds-chaired selection panel.

The 24-year-old left-hand opener, who was given the huge responsibility of leading the team at the start of the season, has endured a wretched campaign with the bat. It is believed his poor form is the reason for his omission. John Campbell, another left-hand opener, is set to take over the captaincy.

Neither team has a realistic chance of winning the 2015-16 regional four-day title, but the traditional rivalry between the two makes for an interesting clash. It is expected that players from both teams will be motivated by the opportunity to impress regional selectors.

The Scorpions batsman Andre McCarthy has scored a total of 376 runs, while his left-handed teammate John Campbell has tallied 299 runs. Left-arm finger spinner Nikita Miller leads the tournament’s wickets table with 41 dismissals.

For the Red Force, Narsingh Deonarine has 306 runs, while leg-spinner Imran Khan has captured 26 wickets.

The Scorpions are third in the six-team league with 56 points, while T&T Red Force are fourth with 40 points. Title-holders Guyana Jaguars lead with 101 points, while Barbados Pride are second with 82 points. Windward Islands Volcanoes (32 points) and the Hurricanes (28 points) prop up the table.

Junior Bennett, head coach of the Scorpions, is hoping his team can improve on the poor display in the loss versus lowly Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Antigua last week.

“We have to try to come out and improve on our last performance. We didn’t play well against the Leewards in terms of our batting.

“We bowled well against them, but the out-cricket wasn’t good. We missed crucial chances which cost us,” he told the

Jamaica Observer early yesterday.

When the teams met earlier in the season Jamaica Scorpions came out victors in Trinidad & Tobago. Bennett said he wants a similar result on a Sabina Park pitch that he believes could provide a balanced battle between bat and ball.

“We got the better of them in Port of Spain and we just want to get the better of them again,” he said.

“The pitch looks good and it’s the type of surface that if you get a start on you can make runs. It looks good for bowling and batting, so we just want to make the most of it,” Bennett added.

The Red Force Head Coach Augustine ‘Gus’ Logie, who coached Jamaica’s senior team a few seasons ago with Bennett as his deputy, said players from both teams should be motivated for the encounter.

“If you cannot win a championship it doesn’t mean that you throw in the towel. There is always pride at stake and pride in individual performance,” he explained.

He charged his players to bring their best cricket into the contest.

“Every individual has to step up to the plate and we have to bring our ‘A’ game to the table. Playing for your national team is an honour… there is going to be commitment involved, there is going to be responsibility involved and that’s what we are looking for over the next four days against Jamaica,” Logie told the

Observer.

The former West Indies batsman said his side’s retention of the Super50 crown in January should provide the boost needed to complete the four-day campaign on a high.

“That would have given us confidence coming into the last part of this PCL Championship. Unfortunately, Guyana [Jaguars] are way ahead at this point in time, but we are looking to finish this competition in at least third place,” he said.

Logie said he was able to get a look at the pitch on Wednesday and believes there will be “some assistance to the bowlers early” before it “settles down” on the second day.