Thrust into the captaincy of the Guyana national cricket team which will compete in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional Four-day competition which bowls off Friday, 22-year-old Veerasammy Permaul understands that he will have to make adjustments quickly.
The left-arm spinner Permaul, who gained valuable captaincy exposure and experience last November when he led the West Indies (A) team in a 4-day test against their Bangladesh counterparts will captain the team in the absence of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Chanderpaul has been given a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the WICB which allows him to participate in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 competition.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport prior to the team’s departure for Dominica where they will oppose the Leeward Islands in their opening fixture, Permaul said that the chance to lead his country was all part of his development as a player.“It’s a good opportunity to go out and show my worth,” he declared.
“It’s a learning process for me as a player in this early stage of my career and to be given the captaincy of my country means that I have to learn quickly,” he added.
Asked about the mood in the camp amidst all the recent developments Permaul said: “All of us have prepared in recent weeks as if we had a game on Friday. Unfortunately, we did not have any practice games, but we have one in Dominica so we have to make best use of that.”
Asked if he has any major personal ambitions for the four-day tournament, Permaul simply stated that he will be taking things one game at a time.
Guyana is expected to play a two-day game against a local Dominican side commencing today
The 14-man squad under newly appointed coach Esuan Crandon, assistant coach, David Harper, and manager David Black departed Guyana at around 5am yesterday morning. They will play the Leeward Islands from February 3 – 6 and the Windward Islands from February 10 – 13 at Windsor Park in Dominica, the newest of the West Indies test venues.
The Guyana 14-man squad reads: Veerasammy Permaul (captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Derwin Christian, Devendra Bishoo, Brandon Bess, Ronsford Beaton.
Stabroek Sport understands that opener Sewnarine Chattergoon did not go with the squad but will leave today.
