Persaud confident of retaining title despite Sampson’s absence

By Frederick Halley
WHEN the sixth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Tournament, organised by the Georgetown Softball League, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Sport, bowls off on November 11, defending Open champions, Georgetown Knight Riders Ariel All Stars, will be without star player, Quentin Sampson, who is part of the Guyana National One-day squad participating in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Super-50 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

While Sampson’s absence is seen from the outside as a significant blow to the team’s chances of retaining honours in this year’s tournament, co-manager of Ariel All Stars, Ariel Persaud is extremely confident of his team’s chances of coming out tops for the second consecutive year.

Sampson had the unique distinction of earning both the man-of-the-match of the final and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament awards with his brilliant all-round performances as Ariel All Stars played unbeaten in the Open category.

In the final, versus Regal All Stars, played at the Guyana National Stadium, the no-nonsense batsman completed the demolition of his opponents, thumping four sixes in an unbeaten 25 off a mere six balls as Ariel All Stars cantered to victory in 11.2 overs after being set 130 for victory in the 20-over affair.

Sampson, who also smashed a fine century in the final round preliminary match, took home the man-of-the-match trophy and a 43-inch Smart television, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre for being the MVP.

Describing his team as being “super dangerous,” Persaud, son of veteran softball player, Dharam Persaud, boasted that his side possess quality players in skipper Brian Mangar, vice-captain Keyon Sinclair, Eon Hooper, Johnathan Fernandes and David Williams, among others.

In addition, they will be further boosted with the inclusion of former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Zamal Khan who is based in New York and is seen as an ideal replacement for Sampson.

Quizzed on whether his players will adopt easily to the round-arm bowling which will be used in the Open category for the first time this year, Persaud said they are raring to go following several practice sessions over the past few weeks. He pointed out that they have also been involved in a few practice games which included a victory over Regal All Stars last Saturday under lights at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

Meanwhile, Regal All Stars will be hoping for a better showing this time around in the six-team category which also includes Florida Finest (Florida), Speedboat, Name Brand (Berbice) and Softball Cricket Canada.

Led by Fazal Rafeek, with the likes of hard-hitting left-hander Sachin Singh, Sieuchand Budhu and Delroy Perreira, they will be also be boosted with three stalwart players in Greg Singh, Wazir Hussain and Wazim Suldar, who previously donned colours for the powerful Speedboat team but have opted to join Regal All Stars.

Apart from the Open, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50, this year’s tournament will also see four female teams participating with the winners guaranteed $200,000 and a trophy and the runners-up $25, 000 and a trophy. The player of the match in the final will collect a trophy while the player of the tournament gets a blender.

The winners of each of the three categories will waltz away with a huge $600,000 first prize and a trophy while the runners-up will collect $50,000 and a trophy. Each man-of-the-match gets a trophy. The MVP in the All Stars Open is guaranteed a 50-inch flat screen television, the same as the Over-40 Masters winner while the Legends Over-50 MVP receives a three-piece sofa.

Among the venues identified for the preliminary rounds are Police Sports Club, Guyana Defence Force, Demerara Cricket Club, Muslim Youth Organisation, Queens College, Transport Sports Club and Gandhi Youth Organisation. All four finals are set for the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday, November 11.