‘I am not fully fit’ – Pestano
Flashback! Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson congratulates Clinton Pestano during a regional game.
Flashback! Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson congratulates Clinton Pestano during a regional game.

By Rajiv Bisnauth

OF late, a lot of criticism has been levelled against the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) senior selection panel for not putting the right blend of players for the 43rd edition of the region’s premier one day tournament, the CG Insurance Super50 Cup.
This year the selectors recalled openers Assad Fudadin and Trevon Griffith along with pacer Keon Joseph. Subsequently Griffith, the left-hander was replaced by wicketkeeper Kemol Savory after being tested positive for COVID-19.
There were maiden Jaguars’ Super50 call-ups for Kevin Sinclair, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach – all three have played List A cricket for other teams.
The Jaguars will be without a few players namely left-arm medium pacer Raymon Reifer and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who are both on West Indies duties in Bangladesh, while bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul sits out of the tournament in order to facilitate adequate recovery from an injury.
Another notable absentee is T20 specialists Sherfane Rutherford who opted to play league cricket elsewhere.

However, with the absence of those key players, one felt that bowling all-rounder Clinton Pestano should have make the cut. But according to the Berbician, he is not surprised by the selectors’ decision, since he is not fully fit to resume Regional cricket. “I am not that surprised, since I am still recovering from an injury,” he said.
Pestano, who missed the entire 2020 Regional Four-Day season, which ended prematurely, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, said he remains focussed for a First-Class return.
“Currently I am working hard on my all-round game and fitness, so by the time the Four-Day comes around I should be ready.” Pestano reckoned.
Asked to comment on the Jaguars’ squad, the strongly-built Pestano said that the 15 players selected are all capable of performing; adding that the squad is a balanced one mixed with youth and experience in all departments.

Pestano played four matches last season and got two wickets, but it was October 2018, when he dominated. The Berbician was the leading wicket-taker for Guyana in that tournament, with 15 dismissals in nine matches at 18.00 and an economy rate of 4.21.
During that tournament he joined an elite group of bowlers who had achieved a hat-trick during the 43-year history of 50-Over cricket after his match-winning performance against the hosts Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.
He became only the second seamer behind Kieron Pollard to achieve such a feat. Ex-Trinidad & Tobago/West Indies spinner Rajindra Dhanraj, Anthony Martin, the Antiguan leg-break spinner and mystery spinner Sunil Narine were the last bowlers to achieve the exploit.
The Super50 Cup bowls off on Sunday and concludes on February 27.

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