T20 action at National Stadium tonight…
-says Bravo and Ganga

SKIPPER of the CARICOM Superstars XI for the first match tonight in the President Premier League Dwayne Bravo yesterday told Chronicle Sport his side is ready and raring to have a go at the President’s XI at the Guyana National Stadium from 19:00h.

In this Adrian Narine photograph, Minister of Tourism Maniram Prashad (second from right), Minister of Housing and Water Irfan Ally (third from left) and Director of Sports Neil Kumar (second from left) strikes a pose with the Trinidad and Tobago contingent of the Caricom Superstars team after their arrival yesterday morning.

The two matches which will both be played at the latest sports venue here in Guyana, will be having a winner take all purse of G$1m each night.

Bravo’s sentiments were backed by skipper of the Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) national team which is preparing for their upcoming ICC Club Championship League in India next month Daren Ganga, who stated the side is a very confident bunch.

‘We have been preparing as a unit for the past month and a half for the ICC Club Championship League so with that in mind, we are confident of overcoming whatever, they, Guyana President’s XI throw at us” said Bravo who will be leading his side in the first match whilst Jamaica’s Christopher Gayle will take the reins for the second one tomorrow night.

He further stated, “Both teams are equally balanced and with the caliber of players on show tonight, the local cricketing public would be getting their monies worth in a highly and keenly contested game.”

When asked on which players he would have his eyes on with regards to the opposition, Bravo stated that skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan and Sewnarine Chattergoon who are both West Indies players, along with fast bowler Brandon Bess who has lots of potentials are the ones.

Ganga echoed Bravo’s sentiments and added that the team has been a part of similar matches in the past, wherein proceeds will be going to charitable organisations around Guyana and they are happy to be playing such a role here.

“We have been a part of such exercise before back home and to be able to do so here in Guyana is a surplus for us, to which we are happy. It will definitely be two good days of cricket involving some very good players who will be on showcase for both teams.”

He added, “As you are aware, T20 cricket is on the rise around the world and it would be an exciting opportunity for cricket fans here in Guyana, as from the players’ point of view, we are looking forward to competing against the home team in the matches.”

The CARICOM Superstars will be having in their batting line-up, Jamaica’s Xavier Marshall, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Kieron Pollard, the two additions in Kavon Cooper and Daron Cruickshank, along with skipper Dwayne Bravo and Daren Ganga.

Their bowling rest on the shoulders of Bravo, Pollard, West Indies fast bowlers Ravi Rampaul, who is the leading fast bowler for T&T, and the fiery Barbadian Fidel Edwards, along with the wily Dave Mohammed who took four wickets in the 2008 Stanford T20 finals triumph over Jamaica.

The President’s XI had their final practice session in sweltering conditions and under the eye of coach Mark Harper at the Demerara Cricket Club ground yesterday morning and all the looked in the pink of condition and ready to have a go at their opponents tonight.

Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan in a telephone interview said that these two matches is the perfect opportunity for the younger players to showcase their talent in a well balanced team and against worthy opponents.

“This is the first time that a makeup Guyana team which has been hastily put together, will be competing against a makeup Caricom Superstars team and I am excited and I am sure the other players are excited to be competing against the Caricom Superstars in these two matches.”

He further stated, “Our team which is a well balanced one, is a mixture of youth and experience and this game will serve as the perfect exposure for some of the younger players in the team, in this format of the game, but I know that they can handle it well and see Guyana as the victorious team at the end.”

The President’s XI batting will hinge around the pugnacious all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, Chattergoon, Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Lennox Cush, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Darwin Christian and to an extent, the late inclusion Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo have proved in times past that they are no rabbits with the bat, especially the latter who played many responsible innings for Guyana as a night watchman in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four day competition held early this year.

Esaun Crandon and Brandon Bess can produce with the bat, with the latter’s belligerent innings against Jamaica in the inaugural Stanford T20 tournament back in 2006, being his best innings to date for Guyana.

The bowling will come from Bess, Crandon, Barnwell, Nagamootoo and Cush who shared the new ball with Crandon in the Stanford tournament, with added support from Deonarine, Bishoo and Permaul, whilst Jacobs is known to be a miserly bowler in this form of the game on the local scene.

The gates will be opened from 16:00h with live entertainment being provided before, during and after the game, while a fireworks display will be an added attraction for the fans who will be filling the stands at the fastest drying venue in the Caribbean.

Teams from:
President’s XI: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Lennox Cush, Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Darwin Christian, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Esaun Crandon and Brandon Bess.

CARICOM Superstars from: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Christopher Gayle, Darren Ganga, Sherwin Ganga, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Xavier Marshall, Kieron Pollard, Dinesh Ramdin, Fidel Edwards, Dave Mohammed and Ravi Rampaul.

Umpires: Daverteeth Anandjit and Shanon Crawford (Gowkaran Dindiall)