THE selection panel of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has handed West Indies Under-19 player Bhaskar Yadram and all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford their maiden senior call-up to the national lineup, for this weekend’s clash against Windward Islands Volcanoes in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Four-day, starting tomorrow at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Also making a return to the squad are middle-order batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj and all-rounder Steven Jacobs. Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who was in the West Indies T20 training squad when the last round was played, also returns to the squad.
The five players replace opener Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounder Raymon Reifer, fast bowler Keon Joseph and batsman Vishaul Singh after they were called up as part of the West Indies Cricket Board’s President’s XI to face Pakistan in a three-day warm-up game this weekend in Jamaica. Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is unavailable for this round.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars are now the heavy favourites to win a hat-trick of titles after maintaining their lead at the top of the standings despite sitting out the ninth round of matches.
The two-time defending champions have remained four points ahead of closest challengers Barbados Pride, who suffered a stunning 130-run defeat to perennial arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force inside three days at Kensington Oval last weekend.
Jaguars are 109.8 points with Pride still second on 105.2.
In that final round, Jaguars clash with a rejuvenated Windward Islands Volcanoes who have now won their last two games on the trot, to move up to fourth on 92.8 points.
Jamaica Scorpions, meanwhile, saw their title chances slip in the last round when they produced a limp performance against Volcanoes to lose by eight wickets in Kingstown.
They lie third on 98.6 points with a difficult assignment against Pride in the final round.
Red Force, who started the last round bottom in the standings, revived themselves with a resounding victory over Pride and are now fifth on 82 points.
They clash with Hurricanes at Warner Park, with their opponents now last on 66.4 points.
The squad reads: Assad Fudadin, Rajendra Chandrika, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson (captain), Bhaskar Yadram, Keemo Paul, Anthony Bramble, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul (vice-captain), Gudakesh Motie, Clinton Pestano, Steven Jacobs and Sherfane Rutherford.