– Strict COVID-19 mandates to be outlined

By Clifton Ross

AFTER months away from live action and team activities, the Guyana Jaguars are expected to commence their full-time training sessions at the La Bonne Intention facility this week, following the Government’s re-opening of the floodgates to live sports.

Athletes and associations locally have gotten their wish after months of lockdown, which saw gyms, sports facilities and any semblance of team activities or gathering being subject to a forced hiatus.

Now, with the Government allowing sports to commence its journey on the path to normalcy, Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) executive, Anand Sanasie, recently confirmed that training sessions for the 5-time 4-Day champs will resume this week at the new LBI facility, which is set to be officially unveiled in the near future.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) director told Chronicle Sport that while the team will restart its sessions, the process will be a bit more meticulous as the re-opening of sports is still happening in the middle of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In keeping with the Government’s rule that all local associations must work along with, essentially being given the green light by the Ministry of Health in order to fully reintegrate back into the world of live team sports.

With cricket being a team sport, Sanasie said that the reintegration process will be closely and strictly monitored. He noted that due to the nature of the sport, keeping full account of the safety while still abiding by Covid-19 guidelines, will be paramount over the next few days of getting back into action.

CGI, according to the executive, will be playing their part in keeping with the necessary rules which once permission is given to resume practice, training and live cricket in the future.

The players, those who have not played any international cricket or franchise tournaments like the Hero CPL or ongoing IPL, have been forced to improvise and stay fit and in playing shape during lockdown.

Daily ZOOM fitness sessions with team and West Indies physio, Neil Barry Jr, ensured players were fully assessed during initial stages of the quarantine while further ensuring that they were kept in some playing form despite the challenges.

This news of the 50 per cent re-opening of gyms and Sports venues also comes at the right time as the LBI facility is equipped with floodlights and a mini stadium-like setup which could see scrimmages and competitive short games being simulated in a safe, limited-access area.