What promises to be an exciting and competitive West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ Professional Cricket League (PCL) Digicel Regional Four-Day 2016/17 season, will get underway with three matches at three venues in the Region this weekend.
As a result, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) selection panel headed by Rayon Griffith named a strong 13 member Guyana Jaguars squad for their first game of the League which starts on Friday at the Providence Stadium against the Jamaica Scorpions.
The reigning champions, Jaguars will be led by West Indies batsman Leon Johnson, who will continue as captain for a third consecutive year while Vishaul Singh will be his deputy. The squad also includes retired international player Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Assad FudadinLeon JohnsonShivnarine Chanderpaul
Ignorant to how the new pitch at Providence will play, the panel opted for three spinners, a pacer and two all-rounders, who bowl medium fast as they aim for a three peat.
Unfortunately West Indies A players Assad Fudadin and Ronsford Beaton were excluded while there were no places for the Jaguars 3-Day semi-professional League outstanding performers, middle order batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj, off spinner Eon Hooper and fast bowler Romario Shepherd.
Fudadin was axed from the Jaguars side towards the latter part of the previous season, however, he did well in the Nagico Super 50 Regional tournament and was selected for the West Indies A tour of Sri Lanka where he scored a half century in one of his three innings. Prior to his departure to Sri Lanka he was batting well in the Jaguars Franchise League.
Since making his first class debut in 2004, the left handed batsman has been used all over the batting order. Now he is out of the team.
Meanwhile, fast bowler, Beaton who was outstanding with the ball in three List A games against Sri Lanka A was overlooked although he bowled well at the latter part of last season where he collected his first five wicket haul.
It was always going to be difficult for Hemraj to make a return and Hooper to be included due to the batting and spin bowling strength of the team that already exist.
The Guyana Jaguars squad to face Jamaica Scorpions reads; Leon Johnson (captain), Vishaul Singh (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph and Gudakesh Motie.
Esuan Crandon is the Coach, Rayon Griffith the Assistant Coach/Manager while Beverley Nelson is the team’s Physio.
The two other first round matches to begin on Friday are Hurricanes hosting Pride at Warner Park from 10:00h and Red Force versus Volcanoes at the Queen’s Park Oval in the day/night fixture for the round beginning at 15:00h.
