Shamar Joseph opts for T20 franchise league in Dubai
SEVERAL senior players are unavailable for at least the first two rounds of the 2024 Regional First-Class tournament for various reasons, including recent Test sensation Shamar Joseph, who has opted to play in a T20 league in Dubai.
The depleted defending Champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, winners of six of the last eight First-Class titles, will face off with Trinbago Red Force who has not won a First-Class since 2015, on February 7 in St Kitts.
And without several of their star players, the selectors have their work cut out.
Joseph’s decision to head to Dubai instead of St Kitts is not surprising and understandable since, with the money earned from Dubai he will be able to do things for his family that they only dreamed of while he will still be able to play at least five games in the CWI tournament since two extra teams have been added this season.
The 27-year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul has struggled since making his first Test century (a double against Zimbabwe) scoring just two fifties and three ducks in his last 10 matches, including 6 & 0 (in the first test against Australia last week).
Chanderpaul, along with off-spinner Kevin Sinclair will hope to make an impact in the second Test (Sinclair’s debut) before returning for Guyana’s opening game.
Chanderpaul will open the batting with Matthew Nandu who batted brilliantly before being run out on Wednesday on day two of National Trials in West Demerara.
Nandu shared in a 173-run stand with Raymond Perez who fell seven short of his ton while Kevlon Anderson scored a century in last week’s trial; the former being the top scorer (29) after his team was bowled out for 97 in the current trail game.
Along with Kemol Savory who could do the Keeping, could form the top five in Guyana’s batting order with Anderson coming at three Savory at four and Perez who is likely to make his debut, at five.
Sinclair, arguably the improved West Indies cricketer over the two seasons, could bat at six with all-rounder Clinton Pestano coming at seven.
Veerasammy Permaul could bat at eight and leggie Steven Sankar, who so taken 10 wickets from three innings in the trials and should picked for his variety, at nine.
Ronsford Beaton and Nial Smith who along with Pestano could form the pace attack, could occupy the two remaining batting positions.
Guyana’s spin trio could be Permaul, Sinclair and Sankar who could also make his debut while Adams and Renaldo Alimohamed (if he makes a good score in this trials) could be the other two players in the Guyana Harpy Eagles touring squad.
At 34, Permaul already has 607 First-Class from 137 games including his nine Tests and it will be interesting to see if the Captaincy will be given to him since Anthony Adams, Anderson, Savory and Nandu have played the role of Captain during the rain-affected trials
The 13-man squad is expected to be named today when the Chairman of the Selection panel Ramnaresh Sarwan, returns from the USA. The panel is made up of Sarwan, Peter Persaud (Demerara), Balram Samaroo (Berbice) and Norman Fredericks (Essequibo).
GHE Potential: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Raymond Perez, Kevin Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Veerasammy Permaul, Steven Sankar, Ronsford Beaton, Nail Smith, Anthony Adams, Shamar Yearwood.
