By Marlon Munroe
West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will not be available for Guyana’s first game in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four-day tournament from January 15-18 due to torn ligaments in his fingers sustained in Australia. The in-form Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh has been chosen as his replacement. National coach Rabindranauth Seeram said Chanderpaul’s absence will be a big blow to the side.

The left hander, a veteran of 248 first class matches, has an aggregate of 17,772 runs.

Chanderpaul will also sit out today’s match against an Invitational XI at the Georgetown Cricket Club’s Bourda ground.

Chanderpaul boasts a handsome average of 53.85 with an unbeaten 303 being his highest regional score.

Singh, who has been in great nick for most of 2009, has a senior Inter-County century and a three-day first division undefeated century against Transport Sports Club (TSC) to his credit in the last quarter of 2009. He also scored a patient half century in the first practice match against the national team in December.

Chairman of the Guyana Cricket Board selectors Claude Raphael confirmed that Chanderpaul will be replaced by the 20-year-old GCC player who had earlier said that his aim was to play on the senior national team this year. Raphael also said the reason for choosing the reserves was to facilitate the recall of the West Indian players Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deonarine to perform duties in Australia.

Seeram said while Chanderpaul’s absence will be a big loss for the team, he hopes that the sturdy middle-order batsman makes a speedy recovery since he is an asset to the team.

He also expressed the hope that the other players will concentrate and play their role in the team.

Serving in his second first class tourney after replacing Albert Smith during last year’s tournament Seeram said  he hopes that Singh continues his good form when Guyana get into action against Trinidad & Tobago in St. Kitts. Guyana will start the competition in the second round after drawing a bye in the first round which commences Friday in Jamaica.

Seeram, who is cognisant of Guyana’s poor performance in last year’s tourney which resulted in them finishing at the bottom of the points table, hopes that his players will all contribute to the team and not leave one player to shoulder the responsibility, especially in the bowling department.

The Ramnaresh Sarwan-led national team will be in action against the Invitational XI led by Leon Johnson.

The game bowls off at 09.30 am.

Guyana Team (from): Ramnaresh Sarwan (Captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon (Vice captain), Travis Dowlin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian (wicketkeeper), Trevor Benn, Easun Crandon, Verasammy Permaul, Brandon Bess and Devendra Bishoo.

Invitational (XI) Team (from): Leon Johnson (Captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell, Shemroy Barrington, Vishal Singh, Gajanand Singh, Steven Jacobs, Deon Ferrier, Krishna Arjune, Anthony Bramble (wicketkeeper), Totaram Bishun, Trevon Garraway, Keyron Fraser and  Steven Latcha.