By Rajiv Bisnauth

GUYANA’S national women’s team coach, Bharat Mangru, yesterday said that he was confident that the team will do well in the upcoming 2018 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional tournaments.

The ladies were encamped since last Saturday at the Chetram Singh indoor facility, located at LBI on the East Coast of Demerara, as they aim to have adequate preparation leading up to the tournaments.

While the squad is forced to take most of their training indoors, as result of the current bad weather, they managed to put in some turf practice over the past few days.

Chronicle Sport visited one of those sessions and caught up with Mangru, who said the players have been engaged in various aspects of training with regard to batting, bowling and fielding. 

Mangru is hopeful that the weather will give them leeway for more outdoor work, an area he stressed that is vital ahead of both tournaments.

He, however, stated, that his aim was to bring the female players up to scratch before they leave.

With regard to the team’s progress, the coach stated that the team, which comprises players from different parts of the country, were “gelling as a unit”.

In conclusion, the coach declared that the team is a well-balanced unit comprising a number of match-winners. Mangru feels it is the best chance for the Guyanese to win both tournaments.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Regional T20 and 50-Over tournaments are scheduled to take place in Jamaica from Thursday June 7 to 25.

The 14 players selected are: Shemaine Campbelle (captain), Sheneta Grimmond, Mandy Mangru, Shabika Gajnabi, Lashuna Toussaint, Melanie Henry, Tremayne Smartt, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Erva Giddings, Kaysia Shultz, Subrina Munroe, Akaze Thompson, Plaffiana Millington and Katana Mentore.

The standby players are: Heema Singh, Shenika Campbell, Latoya Smith, Dian Prahalad, Althea Newark and Casey Charles.

The team manager is Carol Nurse.