… Griffith and Crandon axed
THE Clive Lloyd-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) yesterday released its 13-man squad to represent Guyana in the upcoming semi-finals of this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day tournament. Guyana, who have 39 points and are at present in second position, having won three of their six matches, losing two and drawing the other, are assured of a place in the final four which bowls off next weekend, irrespective of the outcome of the final round matches which bowl off today and for which they have drawn a bye.
The left-handed Trevon Griffith and right-handed middle-order batsman Royston Crandon have been axed from the squad selected by the IMC committee which is headed by former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper.
The 24-year-old Shemroy Barrington, who last played for Guyana at this level last year against the Windward Islands when he had scores of 16 and 5, has been recalled along with Richard Ramdeen, another opening batsman in his own right and Vishal Singh.
However, a shock selection to the squad is that of left-arm orthodox spinner Eugene La Fleur, especially with the inclusion of West Indies ‘A’ team skipper and the team’s leading wicket-taker Veerasammy Permaul.
With Ronsford Beaton, who bowled a nagging line and length in Barbados’ second innings which saw the home team being routed for a record low 58 runs and Chanderpaul Hemraj going to a West Indies Under-19 youth camp, fast bowler Keon Joseph has been included to share the new ball with Brandon Bess and Christopher Barnwell.
Discarded West Indies middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan will be unavailable for this encounter, as he will be joining his English County team Leicestershire, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named captain and Permaul his deputy. Should Chanderpaul be unavailable then Royston Crandon will replace him in the team.
Carl Moore returns as manager of the team, while Esaun Crandon and David Harper’s successful run as coach and assistant coach respectively saw the selectors entrusting faith in them, as they have retained those positions.

The 13-man squad with manager and coach reads: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Veerasammy Permaul, Shemroy Barrington, Richard Ramdeen, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh, Derwin Christian, Christopher Barnwell, Eugene La Fleur, Keon Joseph and Brandon Bess. Carl Moore (manager), Esaun Crandon (coach) and David Harper (assistant coach).