By Rajiv Bisnauth

FORMER West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan last played competitive regional cricket in 2014 but the talented batsman will be in action during this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Sarwan was snapped up by the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) for US$4000 during the player draft that was held on February 11 in Barbados.
The 35-year-old, who captained the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2013 edition of the tournament said during a media briefing on Wednesday, said he is overjoyed to be back.
“I am feeling like I am making by debut again,” a visibly delighted Sarwan pointed out.
Asked about his feelings about returning to competitive cricket, Sarwan said, “I was actually thinking about that, how would it feel to be playing in front of 10 000 or 12 000 people. I haven’t had that feelings in months or years, but I am sure it would be exciting, and I am looking forward to it.”
“Of course I am fortunate enough to gain a lot of experience over the period I have played. I have played in front of crowds and without crowds, so hopefully I would be able to make that adjustments,” Sarwan reckoned.
Meanwhile, in order to remain physically fit, Sarwan has commenced intense net session at his local-based GCC club on a daily basis.
“Obviously we are a couple of months away from the tournament; it’s a tournament I am looking forward to. Of course, I haven’t played in a while, but in terms of getting myself physical fit I have started net sessions at GCC, which I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks before the tournament,” he said.
Sarwan, who at one point of his One Day International (ODI) career was touted as the best ‘finisher’, has played 75 Twenty20 games and has a highest score of 70 with a strike rate of 104.39.
Sarwan joins fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, as the two Guyanese on TKR roster.
The duo will play alongside Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Kevon Copper, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller Javon Searles, William Perkins, Yannic Cariah, Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Anton Devcich (New Zealand) and Hamza Tariq (Canada).