Former national twenty20 captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has not been considered for selection on the Guyana Twenty20 team for next month’s regional competition.
The Guyana Cricket Board yesterday announced the team for the upcoming Caribbean T20 Tournament scheduled for January 2012 in Antigua and Barbados.
The senior selectors said that they faced a difficult task and were pleased by the level of intensity, performance and commitment shown by the players in the recently-concluded Carib/Pepsi 20/20 Big Smash Tournament, a press release stated.
While Sarwan’s absence is the most perplexing, the most notable selections are the recall of 37-year-old veteran West Indies star Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the national Twenty20 set-up and the debut call-up of powerfully built Essequibo all-rounder Delon Heyliger.
Chanderpaul, as most knowledgeable cricket fans are aware, is not part of the current and future plans of the West Indies team in limited overs or T20 cricket.
Narsingh Deonarine, who was absent from the national squad during the Regional Super50 tournament hosted by Guyana in October, earns a recall while simultaneously medium pacer Paul Wintz loses his place as the singular quick-bowling option in the squad to Ronsford Beaton.
Stabroek Sports spoke to Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith and he articulated the rationale behind the panel’s decision-making process.
“With regards to Ronsford Beaton he bowled very well in the Carib/Pepsi tournament for the victorious President’s XI and deserves his place,” Griffith stated.
“Chanderpaul has been picked in this T20 squad based on his experience due to Sarwan’s absence. We can’t just pick a team for such a key tournament . . . and have no senior figure in the batting department around,” the former national fast bowler said.
“Heyliger is also someone that stood out for the President’s XI with his hitting ability. He played two very good innings in the semi-final and final, so on form we feel he fits the role of potential finisher that Jonathon Foo in recent times has occupied.”
According to the press release the selectors stated that Sarwan indicated to them on November 12 by email that he will be travelling to the United States of America to seek further treatment for his injury and by his estimate he would be fit and ready to play cricket for Guyana by December 2 if selected. He also indicated that he would be returning to Guyana on December 12.
However, the selectors were unsure about the injury issues affecting Sarwan, especially since he was not able to play any cricket in the recent T20 Carib/Pepsi tournament. They have also indicated that Sarwan should make himself available to participate in the upcoming GCB national trial matches, training sessions and encampment for the selection of Guyana’s four-day team to compete in next year’s Regional tournament which starts on February 3.
The board stated that Sarwan was still a very integral part of cricket both here in Guyana and in the West Indies and said it looked forward to his return to competitive cricket for both Guyana and the West Indies.
The team is expected to begin camp on December 8th.
GUYANA CT20 TEAM 2012: Christopher Barnwell (Captain), Veersammy Pemaul (vice-captain), Trevon Griffith, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Royston Crandon, Steven Jacobs, Derwin Christian, Davendra Bishoo, Rajiv Ivan, Delon Heyliger, Ronsford Beaton.
RESERVES: Rajendra Chandrika, Keon Joseph, Eon Hooper, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, and Dion Ferrier.
