Persaud, Yadram shortlisted in West Indies U-19 training squad

Wicket keeper batsman Joshua Persaud and batting all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram are the two Guyanese named to participate in a West Indies u-19 training camp scheduled for December 9 through to 20.

Persaud plays for the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and was part of the West Indies U-17 team that tour the United Kingdom last year. At 16 years

and seven months he was the youngest player in Guyana U-19 team in St. Vincent in August.

Yadram is also 16 years old, he is usually an opening batsman but this year was used in the middle and lower order by Guyana. A decision that worked in his favour. He hails from Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara where he also plays most of his cricket at the community club and also represents Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown and the Rose Hall Town U-19 team.

According to WICB Project Officer, Rawl Lewis “this initial camp is to prepare a team for the Regional Super50 as was done the last two years and there will also be a pre-tournament camp for the final team, January 17 – 21.”

Lewis added that “a comprehensive programme has been developed for the 2018 World Cup preparation which started with the regional under 17 and 19 tournaments over the summer. The 23-month programme will include a mini-series between the reigning champions and New Zealand (three-match series) in January 2018, just before the World Cup.”

The World Cup is scheduled for New Zealand, January 12 – February 4, 2018.

The full squad reads: Keagan Simmonds, Kirstan Kallicharan, Cephas Cooper, Navin Bidaisee, Matthew Patrick, Te-Shawn Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago), Johann Jeremiah, Emmanuel Stewart, Johnnel Eugene, Daneal Dupigny and Alick Athanaze (Windward Islands), Jerellius Louis, Javier Spence and Kian Pemberton (Leewards Islands), Joshua Persaud and Bhaskar Yadram (Guyana) and Jeavor Royal from Jamaica, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop and Shian Brathwaite (Barbados).

Dwain Gill, Anthony Gray, Graeme West, Khevyn Williams and Zephyrinus Nicholas are members of the management team who will be in charge of operations during the ten days. The team will be supported by WICB staff Lewis and Senior Player Relations Officer, Ayana Cooper.

The primary focus of the camp is physical assessment and preparation, but will include life skill sessions and mental preparation.