President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoondyal Singh is delighted with the addition of four Guyanese to Cricket West Indies (CWI) U19 training camp currently in progress in Antigua.
This is according to a press release from the GCB.
“Fruitful consultations between President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoondyal Singh and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have resulted in four (4) Guyanese Under-19 players being added to the squad of 56 players currently in training in Antigua,” the release from the board stated, adding that Singh expressed gratitude to CWI President Ricky Skerritt and Vice-President Dr. Kishore Shallow for their favorable consideration to include the players.
The players Marvan Prashad, Alvin Mohabir, Zachary Jodah and Jonathan Rampersaud, were selected by the junior selection panel of the GCB headed by former West Indies U19 skipper Andre Percival.
Singh stated the absence of the Regional Under-19 tournaments in 2020 and 2021, presented a challenge in identifying the best regional players to represent the West Indies on their tour of England 2021 and the ICC Under-19 World Cup next year.
Given the limited flights available due to COVID-19 and its impact, the GCB decided to have the players travel to Antigua via New York to ensure they arrive at the earliest opportunity, and, according to CWI’s Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, the four players will be taken through special assessment exercises prior to August 20, 2021.
The players, though, will first have to satisfy the COVID-19 measures that are in place under the guidance of Dr. Oba Gulston, CWI’s Head of Sports Science.
These measures are expected to see the players spending a specified quarantine period prior to their assessment. Thereafter, the four players will be able to commence official training.
However, it will difficult for the players participate in trial matches currently underway geared at the selection for the UK Under-19 Tour.
The GCB release stated that the Team Management will conduct skills assessment of the players under the supervision of CWI Head of Talent Identification, Robert Haynes, with a view of them being drafted into the ongoing training programme for the ICC Under-19 World Cup scheduled to be played in the West Indies in January and February 2022.
Singh has expressed gratitude to all those who assisted to ensure the four young Guyanese get the opportunity to showcase their talent.
