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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