(CMC) – Guyana Jaguars head coach Esaun Crandon believes veteran former Test left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul still has a pivotal role to play in the first class set-up, and says he plans to explore using his vast experience to benefit the side in the upcoming season.Chanderpaul was sacked by West Indies selectors last May bringing to an end a Test career that yielded 11 867 runs from 164 Tests.
However, the 41-year-old is yet to quit international cricket and Crandon said the icon would be an “asset” for Jaguars in their Professional Cricket League (PCL) campaign.
“As far as I am aware Shiv still wants to play for Guyana at Regional First-Class level. He is as fit as most of the younger guys and when he comes back I will sit with him to discuss what he wants and how he can help Guyana’s cricket,” Crandon said.
“Chanderpaul’s experience and temperament would make the ideal batting mentor and once he still has the desire, should be an asset for Guyana in the Four-Day format.”
Chanderpaul’s career was a stellar one, featuring 30 Test centuries and an average of 51.
He has also amassed over 25 000 runs in 345 first class games at an average of 54, with 71 hundreds.
However, Chanderpaul averaged just 15 when England visited the Caribbean earlier this year for three Tests, coming on the heels of another poor run in the preceding series against South Africa where he averaged 18.
Selectors said his decline had been “rapid”.
Guyana Jaguars are the PCL defending champions after comfortably winning the inaugural competition last season.