Montfort, lone Guyanese in Canada training squad
Mark Montfort
Mark Montfort

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – All-rounder Mark Montfort is the lone Guyana-born player in a squad of 21 shortlisted by Cricket Canada in preparation for the International Cricket Conference (ICC) World Cricket League Division Three tournament, scheduled for Uganda from May 21-31, 2017.
According to Cricket Canada, the players are currently going through intense training as Canada aim to once again reach the top as an associate member.
An elated Montfort told Chronicle Sport:“I’m extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity to represent Canada. I’m satisfied with the work that I’ve put in leading up to this tour;working here in Canada with the coaching staff and spending a month in India at the Institute of Sport (IOS) academy. I’m very confident I’ll make the touring squad to the tournament.”
Montfort, son of umpire Peter Montfort, migrated to Canada in 2010 and has been an integral member of JB Brampton Masters ever since;churning out several outstanding all-round performances in the Toronto & District Association Premiere, Elite and Super Six tournaments.
The all-rounder’s performances obviously impressed the selectors and during the 2016 Spring trials he was identified from among players throughout Canada for the one-week High Performance camp where strenuous fitness drills and simulating games were the key to success. He went through these exercises with flying colours and duly earned a place in the side to play against the touring Bermudans.

Montfort grabbed the opportunity with both hands, slamming a brilliant 69 in the first game and grabbing five for 40 in the second, bowling medium pace instead of his customary off-spin.
The sudden change came about after bowling coach Henry Osinde observed him “trying out” in the net sessions and advised that he do the same in the actual game.
In an interview with Chronicle Sports shortly after playing against Bermuda, Montfort disclosed that his immediate goal was to help Canada get back into Division One of the ICC championships and ultimately into the World Cup tournament.
The former Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) player, who hails from Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara,credited his development to current Guyana manager and assistant coach Rayon Griffith and former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts who played major roles as mentors while he was at GNIC.
The training squad reads: Ammar Khalid, Bhavindu Adhihetty, Cecil Pervez, Dhanuka Pathirana, Dilraj Atwal, Durand Soraine, Hamza Tariq, Jimmy Hansra, Junaid Siddiqui, Mark Montfort, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nikhil Dutta, Nitish Kumar, Rizwan Cheema, Ruvindu Gunasekara, Saad Bin Zafar, Salman Nazar, Satsimranjit Dhindsa, Shihan Kamileen, Srimantha Wijeyeratne and Varun Sehdev.

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