Lara to travel to India with Trinidad and Tobago team for CLT20

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara travel to India with the Trinidad and Tobago team for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, commencing on September 17, in Mohali.

Although not a formal part of the team management, Lara, during his visit to India, will play a dual role of T&T tourism ambassador and mentor for the Red Force.

The former West Indies skipper said, "I am just going to be there, not a part of management; but, as a former cricketer, I am willing to lend a hand in any way I can.

"I hope I will have a chance to interact with the guys while in India and whatever way I can help. I have always had an open door policy and I look forward to working with the guys, the management, the captain Denesh Ramdin and all the players," he told reporters in Port of Spain.

As a T&T Sports Ambassador, Lara played a similar role as unofficial adviser to the team during the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League.

"It's an honour to be part of the upcoming trip. I'm happy to be associated with Trinidad & Tobago's participation. We have a team that will make us proud," he said.

The Ministry of Tourism had sponsored the T&T team to help it prepare for the tournament.

The Denesh Ramdin-led team, which includes mystery spinner Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree, will take on the added responsibility of marketing T&T on the international stage.

The team, which will leave for the sub-continent on Monday, will play a warm-up game before opening their campaign against Brisbane Heat in Ranchi on September 22. 

Image: Brian Lara

Photograph: Getty Images