Sanasie confident players can bounce back from pandemic

Like many other sports in Guyana, cricket has begun a slow but steady restart amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), for the past few months, was keen on keeping some activity going and did so through virtual training programmes. However, nothing compares to the real on-field action.
As such, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport shared just how much of a toll the COVID-19 pandemic took on local cricket and plans of the GCB going forward.
“COVID-19 has affected almost everything throughout the world and Guyana, and Cricket West Indies has been no exception. However, I should say where our actual tournaments are concerned, the only tournament we were not able to run off this year was the Boys’ U-19 three days and 50-over version,” Sanasie shared.
The GCB Secretary went on to add that some of the most adverse effects of the pandemic came in the loss of revenue from regional and international tournaments and the hindrance to training programmes.
While sharing that there have been cuts throughout the system, like the GCB reducing staff to alleviate the pressure of cutting salaries, Sanasie revealed how the players were affected financially.
“One of the effects too is not being able to have recontracted the customary academy players that we would contract. And the actual contract players had to take a cut in their salaries. We hope in January we can go back to normal,” he stated.
While admitting concern about the fitness of some players, Sanasie also expressed his confidence in their ability to bounce back convincingly.
“What I’ve noticed is that the physical fitness of the players has not been up to par and this may very well not have been under the supervision of the coaching and the strength and conditioning. Luckily, we have restarted training at the LBI, so physical training is ongoing, they’re currently using the indoor facility and the outfield at LBI.”
He went on to assert his confidence saying, “The players are professional athletes. They are coming up to par very fast. The Coaches are now running some tests to ascertain the level of fitness and then they would have a short time to get back up to where they should be.”
The first tournament that the GCB is hosting since the restart is the Tropical Springs Over-40 T20, which will be followed by GCB/Hand In Hand Under-19 Inter-County Three-Day and One-Day 50 Overs Tournaments.