The executives of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) yesterday lauded the efforts of the four Guyanese players who have been called up to the West Indies Under-19 team’s World Cup Camp which commenced yesterday at the West Indies Mona Campus in Barbados.
The quartet of Guyana U19 skipper Shimron Hetmyer, Tevin Imlach, Akshaya Persaud and Kemo Paul were drafted straight into camp after the completion of the Regional U19 Tournament which Guyana won.
According to a release, the GCB members believe the four Guyanese will be among the future stars of West Indies cricket.
“Guyana continues to dominate regional cricket, hence, we at the GCB expect that our players will represent the region at the highest level,” the release stated.
“These four cricketers consistent outstanding performances have impressed many and we are hoping that they would emerge from the Camp into the West Indies World Cup squad.
“These four players have a very bright cricket future ahead of them and we are happy that the selectors have recognized that. We are hoping that they would be given the opportunity to represent our region at the 2016 U-19 World Cup,” the release added.
The GCB also urged the players to be disciplined.
“We wish them a safe and productive Camp. We also urge them to be discipline, attentive and open to new methods and techniques, respect their authority and don’t ever give up. The GCB support is always behind them.”
Hetmyer, an opening batsman, is arguably the most prolific young batsman in the region. He was the WICB U-19 Cricketer of the Year in 2014 and at this year’s U19 tournament having scored the most runs (355 with one century and two half centuries). He also registered the highest individual score (135 against Leeward Islands).
Persaud, the left-arm off-spinner, is also a dependable middle-order batsman who gained recognition with his 92 for Demerara in the final against Berbice in this year’s Under-19 Inter-County Competition.
Tevin Imlach is an opening wicket-keeper/batsman and another product of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), a skillful upcoming batsman and a good ‘keeper. In the recent U19 tournament he scored 61, batting through the innings against Trinidad and Tobago, eventually taking Guyana to victory.
All-rounder Paul burst onto the scene last year in the Inter-County Competition and kept progressing rapidly. His fighting 54 against Windward Islands in a match winning partnership with Kasim Khan (51) in this year’s U19 tournament was one of his many heroics in a short career.
