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GUYANA and West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell yesterday told Chronicle Sport, he was pleased with his selection to the much-fancied Indian Premier League (IPL) for this year’s edition, where he will be joining Jamaica’s Christopher Gayle and Trinidad and Tobago’s Ravi Rampaul with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). “I think it is a wonderful feeling to go out there and play in the IPL where a lot of superstars and other big-name players are competing. It is a wonderful opportunity also for me to go out there and showcase my talent to the world once again,” said Barnwell.
The 26-year-old Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) skipper, who was born into a soccer-oriented family (both his dad and uncle represented Guyana in the 80s), becomes the third Guyanese after Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to play in the IPL, after being bought by RCB for US$50 000.
Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team skipper Veerasammy Permaul and his Albion Cricket Club spin twin Devendra Bishoo sought IPL contracts but did not receive the nod, with Permaul starting at a base price of US$20 000 and Bishoo US$50 000.
“I think the hard work is finally beginning to pay of for me, but I think there is a lot more for me to achieve. When the year started, I set myself some goals with regard to my cricket and regaining a place in the West Indies T20 team was one of the most important goals for me.
“I think I started pretty well in the Caribbean T20 (CT20) tournament, which landed me this place in the IPL, but that is only the beginning, as I am looking to carry that form into the Regional four-day and Super50 tournament for Guyana,” stated Barnwell.
“The franchise and various teams would have seen me via ESPN, for which I must say thanks to the WICB for partnering with the sports broadcasting firm and while I did not set myself on an IPL contract at the start of the year, I still see it as a stepping stone towards better things.”
He added, “My main objective is to get back into the West Indies team and the only way for me to do so is to get a wonderful performance for Guyana in the four-day and Super50 tournament, continuing from where I left off in the CT20, then take the IPL after.
“My main focus is to ensure Guyana do well in the Regional 4-day and Super50 tournaments, especially after we had such a good showing in the CT20, even though we lost in the final to Trinidad and Tobago, as another successful tournament there can land me back a place in the West Indies team, giving me upward mobility where cricket is concern.”
The right handed Barnwell has been tasked with the vice-captaincy position to Veerasammy Permaul for the Super50 tournament, while he remains a part of the setup in the four-day squad and says he is earnestly looking forward to playing a major role, as Guyana seek to better their performance last year.
“I know that once I perform in the Regional four-day and Super50, coupled with other special efforts from the guys on the team, we can make cricket-loving fans in Guyana proud.
“At the end of the day, it all comes down to executing the plans set out by the technical staff well. Some people may think that we focus only on the salary that we are being paid, but for me, giving of my best and ensuring that the team I represent, whether it is DCC, Guyana, West Indies and now RCB, win is the most important factor in my cricketing career,” posited Barnwell.
The Guyanese leave today for Antigua, where they take on the Leeward Islands in the opening round of this year’s WICB Super50 tournament at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Thursday, followed by the Regional four-day clash two days later.
He is the first player from the Queenstown-based DCC, to play in the IPL and while he proudly wears the number 90 on his back for DCC, Guyana and the West Indies, he is looking forward to doing the same for RCB in this year’s IP.
The 26-year-old Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) skipper, who was born into a soccer-oriented family (both his dad and uncle represented Guyana in the 80s), becomes the third Guyanese after Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to play in the IPL, after being bought by RCB for US$50 000.
Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team skipper Veerasammy Permaul and his Albion Cricket Club spin twin Devendra Bishoo sought IPL contracts but did not receive the nod, with Permaul starting at a base price of US$20 000 and Bishoo US$50 000.
“I think the hard work is finally beginning to pay of for me, but I think there is a lot more for me to achieve. When the year started, I set myself some goals with regard to my cricket and regaining a place in the West Indies T20 team was one of the most important goals for me.
“I think I started pretty well in the Caribbean T20 (CT20) tournament, which landed me this place in the IPL, but that is only the beginning, as I am looking to carry that form into the Regional four-day and Super50 tournament for Guyana,” stated Barnwell.
“The franchise and various teams would have seen me via ESPN, for which I must say thanks to the WICB for partnering with the sports broadcasting firm and while I did not set myself on an IPL contract at the start of the year, I still see it as a stepping stone towards better things.”
He added, “My main objective is to get back into the West Indies team and the only way for me to do so is to get a wonderful performance for Guyana in the four-day and Super50 tournament, continuing from where I left off in the CT20, then take the IPL after.
“My main focus is to ensure Guyana do well in the Regional 4-day and Super50 tournaments, especially after we had such a good showing in the CT20, even though we lost in the final to Trinidad and Tobago, as another successful tournament there can land me back a place in the West Indies team, giving me upward mobility where cricket is concern.”
The right handed Barnwell has been tasked with the vice-captaincy position to Veerasammy Permaul for the Super50 tournament, while he remains a part of the setup in the four-day squad and says he is earnestly looking forward to playing a major role, as Guyana seek to better their performance last year.
“I know that once I perform in the Regional four-day and Super50, coupled with other special efforts from the guys on the team, we can make cricket-loving fans in Guyana proud.
“At the end of the day, it all comes down to executing the plans set out by the technical staff well. Some people may think that we focus only on the salary that we are being paid, but for me, giving of my best and ensuring that the team I represent, whether it is DCC, Guyana, West Indies and now RCB, win is the most important factor in my cricketing career,” posited Barnwell.
The Guyanese leave today for Antigua, where they take on the Leeward Islands in the opening round of this year’s WICB Super50 tournament at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Thursday, followed by the Regional four-day clash two days later.
He is the first player from the Queenstown-based DCC, to play in the IPL and while he proudly wears the number 90 on his back for DCC, Guyana and the West Indies, he is looking forward to doing the same for RCB in this year’s IP.
