Regional Under-17 tournament set for T&T return

– pool of Guyanese U-17 players looks promising

The Regional Under-17 50-Over Cricket tournament is, in 2019, set to make a second return in as many years to the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
This host nation was crowned champion in 2017, but missed its title defence against Barbados in 2018 by 0.1 point. In that edition, a Sachin Singh-led Guyana team finished in third position.
This tournament is set to commence on July 8, and will run for 10 days, at the end of which the Guyanese players will be aiming to emerge winners of the 2019 edition.
The pool of U-17 players in Guyana looks promising. Having played in the three-day and one-day formats of the game during the U-19 inter-county tournaments, they can consider themselves as having had the perfect preparation for just such a tournament as this.
Among the outstanding players in the Guyana U-17 group are Matthew Nandu, Sheldon Charles, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Andre Seepersaud, Chanderpaul Ramraj, Mavindra Dindyal, Zeynul Ramsammy, Niran Bissu and Marvan Prashad. There are others just as worthy.
Three of the players who participated in the Guyana Select U-17 team in 2018 will be making a second appearance at this level. They are: last year’s vice-captain Andre Seepersaud; fast-bowler Sheldon Charles, who was also the captain; and leg-spinner Niran Bissu. Marvan Prashad, currently a member of the Select U-17 team, was on stand-by in 2018.
During the U-19 inter-county tournament, the Select U-17 team were placed under the microscope, and a lot of questions were raised regarding the selection of players. The 14-member squad that is expected to be announced during this month may see some players who were not in the Select U-17 team making appearance in the final 14.
Daniel Mootoo, Zachary Jodah and even Isai Thorne may make the cut for the final 14. Mootoo was the ‘player of the match’ in the U-19 inter-county final featuring Demerara against Berbice. This left-arm spinner has shown great promise, and with the wickets he snared during the one-day tournament for Demerara, he may have lined himself up for a ticket to Trinidad and Tobago next month.
Guyana U-15 pace sensation Isai Thorne is expected to travel to England this month to represent West Indies U-16, along with Dindyal and Rampertab Ramnauth. He will be eying a good season in England, and, upon his return, would want to book a ticket for the U-17 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
The ‘probable’ 14-member Guyana U-17 squad reads: Matthew Nandu, Zeynul Ramsammy, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Marvan Prashad, Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavindra Dindyal, Andre Seepersaud, Sheldon Charles, Chanderpaul Ramraj, Niran Bissu, Isai Thorne, Jagdesh Dowlatram, Chetram Balgobin and Daniel Mootoo. (Brandon Corlette)