Matthew Pottaya will lead the Berbice U-17 Inter-County team the Berbice Cricket Board has announced.
The Balram Samaroo-led selection panel also named Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club’s Sanjay Algoo as vice-captain. Pottaya has represented Guyana at the U-15 level while Algoo was a stand-by last year for the Guyana U-17s. Speaking exclusively with this newspaper, Samaroo said both players are among the most senior and experienced players at this level hence their elevation.
“Originally, Rampertab Ramnauth was expected to lead the team but with him being in the Guyana U-19 team for the Regional tournament, he would not be available. Pottaya has been selected as captain because he has shown consistency in our two tournaments prior to selecting the team. He led Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club to the final and led Central Corentyne to a championship over New Amsterdam. Algoo was captain of the New Amsterdam zone and has done well captaining Rose Hall Canje,” he said.
Samaroo reasoned that in addition to the performances in the Inter-Club and Inter-Zone tournaments, consideration was given to past performances as well.
The team is packed with up-and-coming talents, the likes of Kevin Kisten and Shiv Harripersaud who were both selected as standbys for Guyana U-19s. Kumar Deopersaud has featured in the Guyana U-15 while most players have played for Berbice at the U-17 and U-19 levels.
Afraz Ali, Rapersaud Ramnauth and Zadine LaRose have all scored centuries in the two tournaments used for selection.
Winston Smith is the coach and Floyd Benjamin the manager.
Squad: Matthew Pottaya (captain), Sanjay Algoo (vc), Kevin Kisten, Afraz Ali Budhoo, Damion Cecil, Romesh Bharrat, Zadine LaRose, Justin Doobay, Shiv Harripersaud, Salim Khan, Ari Aftizal Kadir, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Raj Tika, Kumar Deopersaud, Winston Smith (coach), Floyd Benjamin (Manager)
