THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), on January 20, released the 13-man squad to represent the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the first two rounds of the Regional four-day Championship set to start on February 1.

Since that squad was made public, many persons within the cricket fraternity have expressed outrage over the non-selection of Antony Adams given the absence of Gudakesh Motie, who got recalled to the Test squad.

Appearing on a Barbadian radio programme, Mason and Guest, on Tuesday evening, Harpy Eagles’ captain, Leon Johnson, made a shocking revelation that he had no input in the selection of that squad.

“No, I have not been [part of selection] for the last two tournaments…I am not part of the selection,” he stated when directly questioned on the matter.

However, Johnson clarified that “it has not always been that way…I used to have an input, my opinion was valued.”

In March 2021, a new GCB executive took office and they overlooked the preparation of the four-day and Super50 squads in 2022.

The current senior selection panel, appointed by the GCB, comprises Ravindranauth Seeram (Chairman), Albert Clements (Berbice), Peter Persaud (Demerara) and Elroy Stephany (Essequibo).

Overwhelming efforts have been made by media operatives to gather comments from the members of the selection panel but up to Wednesday afternoon, none was forthcoming thus far.

Johnson, who will be leading the franchise for the eighth season since the Professional Cricket League for the 2014-15 season, and was bestowed with the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement award in 2019 for winning five consecutive titles, further revealed that he only learnt he was selected via a post on Facebook, and not through the selection panel.

“I saw the team on Facebook!” the long-standing skipper stated in response to a question on whether he was informed of the squad selected.

“…captains should have an input, if not being a selector directly, being able to make a decision saying I want this player or I want that player, at least some input if you have been playing the game for the better part of 15 years.”

More so, though opting not to directly comment on the non-selection of Adams, Johnson, believed that the Essequibian, who played one First-Class match in 2017, was “close to selection.”

Harpy Eagles depart on January 29 for Antigua to face defending champions, Barbados Pride, from February 1, then Windward Volcanoes from February 8th in Grenada.