As the WICB Professional Cricket League 4-day tournament nears its finish with the Guyana Jaguars sitting comfortably atop, the current leading wicket taker, left-arm spinner and 2014 National Sportsman of the Year Veerasammy Permaul says he wants to remain in his current position in addition to his team being crowned title winners.
“I’m looking to end the tournament with the most wickets, I just want to continue from where I left off and I can end up on top of the table”, said the Guyana Jaguars ace bowler yesterday, who during his exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports also commented on his recent 2014 National Sports Commission Award.
“It’s a great achievement for me, I am proud to be sportsman of the year, I just want to continue to do well and perform for my country”, declared the 25-year-old who currently sits at the top of the leading wicket takers list in the competition with 46 victims from just seven matches.
The Albion cricket club player who also snagged two five and two 10- wicket hauls at a stingy average of 13.43, admitted his secret to success is his continued commitment to improvement. “I put a huge amount of effort and training into my game because I don’t like sitting around. I always like to improve my game so the effort and practice I put in, stands out in the game”.
Arguably the best and leading performer with the ball in both the 4 day and the Regional Super 50 tournaments, Permaul said his personal favourite performance was his 12-wicket haul against the Barbados Pride at the Guyana National Stadium.
“The match against Barbados in Guyana was my favourite, I have been bowling well throughout the whole tournament. In 4 day cricket it is important to be patient and bowl areas that batsmen can’t get the ball away, so I’m always looking to bowl maidens that builds pressure”, the in-form spinner said.
Speaking about his team’s phenomenal run in the competition thus far, losing just one of their six games, the ex-Guyana Under-19 spinner believes it’s one of the best patches ever endured in a regional season and the possibility of winning is real.
“I think it’s one of the best seasons we had losing just one game, but everybody is just willing to go out and give 110 percent every time and the motivation especially from the ODI’s is good, we start and kept the momentum building so once we keep playing the way we are we can’t lose”.
Retained for the third year by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament, the former West Indies U19 bowler said it was good to again be a part of what he called a “Good team”.
“It is always a privilege to represent my country and to get back in the Amazon Warriors. We reached the finals twice and I think we could win it this year. There is just one hurdle we need to get through this year, it is also good to see Bishoo [Davendra] back in the team I’m very happy that he is in the side”.
Lauding the likes of new teammates in the Sri Lankan trio of: Tilakaratne Dilshan, Thisara Perera and Lasith Malinga, Permaul said, “For the past two years we had good team and I think we have better team this year the conditions will suit them because it is similar to theirs back home.”
To this end, the out-of-favour West Indies ODI and Test spinner who has been making stirring cases for himself with both ball and bat over the past few seasons said he will remain training and committed to taking wickets so he can again find himself in the maroon colours.
“All I can do,” he said, “is to perform all the time. I have no control over the selection I have to keep knocking on the door and just get my performances right all the time”.
Permaul and the rest of the team will now take some much needed rest before resuming their training ahead of next week’s encounter with Jamaica at the Guyana National Stadium.
