CPL 2019: Seasoned campaigner Permaul looking forward to 7th year

By Brandon Corlette

Guyana Amazon Warriors’ (GAW’s) left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul is set for his seventh year of involvement in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) when the 2019 season commences on August 8th.
In an exclusive interview done this week with Guyana Times Sport, Permaul disclosed that getting drafted for CPL participation always excites him, and he considers representing the GAW to be a privilege.
“I want to thank the entire management (of GAW) for picking me once again to play CPL”, Permaul declared.
The experienced spinner, who hails from Albion in East Berbice, predicted that his experience would play a great role in the outcome of Hero CPL 2019.
“I have been in the regional set-up for a number of years, and I have learnt a lot over the years, and (have) had success. I am experienced enough, and that always carried me through the years gone by; and definitely, my experience will play a part in me being successful,” Permaul predicted.
The humble 29-year-old, who will celebrate his 30th birthday in August, has experience gained from playing in 76 T20 matches; and he has, from inception, played for the GAW. The prize on which Permaul has set his sight is on helping GAW win the CPL title.
“my goal is to do whatever the team requires of me to (help them) win”, Permaul explained.
In the first year of his participation in the CPL, in 2013, Permaul played nine matches for GAW, and grabbed 10 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 6.55 and a bowling average of 19. In the 2014 season, he played 11 matches, but took only 5 wickets. He played 10 matches in 2015, and was very economical throughout, taking 8 wickets at an economy rate of 5.75.
In 2016, he took 8 scalps in 12 matches, and had a best bowling figure of 3-20, which is his career’s best to date in the shorter format of the game. In 2017, he had an ordinary season, taking only 4 wickets in 11 matches, while bowling in the “power play”, which is always tough for spinners.
In the 2018 season, Permaul played only 3 matches, because Chris Green and Imran Tahir were lead spinners for the Warriors; but in those matches, he took 2 wickets.
The GAW 2019 CPL squad includes leg-spinner Shadab Khan and Chris Green, with Permaul being the third spinner.
Although for years the leading wicket-taker in Regional 4-Day tournaments, Permaul has often been overlooked for higher representation. Asked if his CPL performances would enhance his chances at selection to represent the West Indies, Permaul was uncertain.
“It may be out of my control, but if I have a great CPL performance, I would hope to get into the West Indies team”, he responded.
This wily spinner, who has played 113 first-class matches, wherein he has snared 486 wickets, has persistently been unlucky not to earn selection for WI duty. He has also played six Test matches, wherein he has taken 18 wickets, while he has played in 7 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and has eight wickets to his name.
Having made his Test and ODI debuts in 2012, Permaul played his last Test in 2015, his last ODI in 2017, and his last T20 International in Karachi, Pakistan in April 2018.