-disappointed Mahendra Nagamootoo airs concern
THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) selectors have reduced the 36 man squad named last week after two trial matches at the Albion cricket ground.

The selectors as mandated by the Executive Committee have started early preparation for the upcoming four day and one day Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-county tournaments.

The squad does not include West Indies one day selectee Royston Crandon who would be unavailable and former West Indies allrounder Mahendra Nagamootoo who was absent without excuse at the trials.

In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, Nagamootoo who was drafted into the President’s XI squad which will oppose the CARICOM Superstars XI at the Guyana National Stadium, tonight in the first of two Twenty20 matches, expressed his disappointment at not being selected.

“I have Berbice cricket in my heart and it is with that in mind, I called Carl Moore and explained to him that I am unable to make it to Guyana for the trials, after being informed that I was selected in a 36 man squad, even though I did not notify the BCB that I was going to Canada to play there, for which I apologise.”

The record holder for most wickets at the Regional four day level further stated, “I was referred to first vice- president of the Board David Black, who was acting as president at that time and I told him that due to flight problems, I would not be able to make it home in time for the first trial, but I will be available for the second to which I received an okay from the then acting president, but now I am home, I heard a squad was selected and I was omitted because of my absence from the trials.”

“It is appalling to know that a player, who has given yeoman service to his country, is finding it difficult to make his county team. If they had wanted me to give up my contract in Canada and return home, I would have readily done so, even though I erred in not notifying the BCB about my whereabouts” said Nagamootoo.

In a shocking twist of things, ‘Yanko’ as he is also called by his fellow players, stated that even the president of the GCB Chetram Singh told him that his eligibility days for representing Guyana at the four day level is over, but he has a lot to offer at the limited overs level in Regional cricket.

“You may want to ask me how I took such a statement from the president and in all fairness, I must say that it hurt when he told me so, but the consoling part of it, was when he mentioned that I still have a lot to offer Guyana in limited- overs cricket at the Regional level.”

He stated, ”How would I be able to do so now, when my county board has turned their back on me, even though I made contact and notified those in authority about my whereabouts, after learning about my selection. If they knew they did not want me, then they should not have included me in the 36 man squad in the first place.”

The full 24 man squad reads: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Karamdat Bissoondyal, Assad Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan, Devon Clements, Andre Percival, Jonathan Foo, Delbert Hicks, Devendra Bishu, Veerasammy Permaul, Brendon Bess, Esaun Crandon, Michael Newland, Narsingh Deonarine, Stephen Latcha, Arthley Bailey, Homchand Pooran, Ranga Lachigadu Latchana, Eugene La Fleur, Keon Joseph, Keyron Fraser, Krishnadat Ramoo, Anthony Bramble, Alexander Amsterdam and Anthony De Andrade.