Three teams have arrived for the commencement of the 2008 regional one-day President’s Cup tournament some 24 hours before its scheduled start two with the stated intention of winning the tournament and the other team here for the experience.
The Windward Islands, Canada and the United States of America teams arrived in Guyana yesterday morning while Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica were expected in last night and the Leeward Islands and the Combined Campuses and Colleges team this morning.
Ian Allen, coach of the Windward Islands team, told Stabroek Sports yesterday that his team was here to return with the regional crown they last won in 2000.
According to Allen, his team was as good as any because they possessed an all round balance.
The Windward Islands team includes players with West Indies experience in Rawl Lewis, Darren Sammy and Devon Smith while other key players include Liam Sebastian, Johnson Charles and Deighton Butler.
As of yesterday, however, only some members of the 16-member contingent had arrived with the others expected in last night and this morning.
Those who did not arrive as of yesterday were Mervyn Matthews, Nelon Pascal, Shane Shillingford, Kevin James and Sebastian.
Allen said that the team, a combination of four islands, has performed creditably this season in one-day internationals.
He said that though responsibilities will lie on the shoulders of the experienced, every player has to chip in if they are to return home victors.
“We will play good all round cricket, take it one (game) at a time and look to improve on mistakes in previous games.”
CANADA
And, Canada’s coach Pubudu Dassanayake, said yesterday he was confident that his boys could take home with them the President’s Cup trophy, before leaving for the International Cricket Council 2011 World Cup qualifiers.
Dassanayke told Stabroek Sports that they were confident after coming off of two good tournaments at home – the Tri Series featuring West Indies and Bermuda in August and the T20 Canada in October involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The experienced, India-born opener Balaji Rao and the exciting Rizwan Cheema are not in the team because of work commitments but the team will still be looking for the first regional title said Dassanayke.
“We will make up for that as our bowlers and fielders are probably the best when it comes to keeping the score in check,” he declared.
Canada’s fast bowling quartet will include former Guyana under-19 speedster Eion Katchay and the others are Umar Bhatti, Harvir Baidwan and Henry Osinde. “We have a good captain in Guyana-born, all-rounder Sunil Dhaniram,” said Dassanayake who added that the captain had one thing on his mind which was to take the trophy back to his adopted homeland.
Canada, he added, was one of the sure bets to win the trophy.
USA
The United States of America (USA) cricket team is already here and according to manager Imran Khan (not the great from Pakistan) this is a learning experience for his team.
The team, already missing former Guyana under-19 player Steve Massiah because of work commitment, has three under-19 players in the side which will be led by Orlando Baker.
The under 19 players are here to learn and they were picked because of their prolific performances in domestic U-15 and U-17 competitions back home.
According to Khan, the team is being coached by former Guyana and West Indies opening batsman Clayton Lambert.
Khan said the focus was to build a young team for the future. He acknowledged that the squad was not at full strength but possessed a few other Guyanese players.
“Our goal is to learn the intensity at this level to distinguish between good and great players,” said Khan.
Up to press time the USA could not practice since their gears did not arrive with them on the same flight but it was set to come on a scheduled flight later last night.
