A 15-member female Precision Sports Combined Forces team was selected yesterday to represent Guyana against the touring Hibiscus team from Trinidad and Tobago in a five-match
series from August 9-16.

The squad will be captained by national player Yonette Welcome, who will have as her deputy, Guyana batter Tilleya Madramootoo.
The strong team includes five senior national players along with five more who represented Guyana in this year’s Regional U-19 tournament, including Guyana’s lone West Indies U-19 selectee, Danellie Manns from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.

The final practice match for the Guyanese team is scheduled for the Malteenoes Ground, where all five games between the local lasses and the Trinidadians will be held.
The Hibiscus ladies will arrive in Guyana on August 7 and play a warm-up game at the LBI ground on the morning of August 8.

The official launch is scheduled for the Malteenoes pavilion at 05:00PM on August 8, before the tournament commences on Saturday, August 9.
A representative of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), special invitees, the sponsors and the media are also invited.
According to Trinidadian Nidia Andrews of Precision Sports, the team’s name, ‘Combined Force,’ was inspired by the fact that the players, from all three counties came together to form a potent force after several sessions in Demerara and Essequibo.

Nidia explained that the planned session in Berbice was called off due to the unavailability a ground there.
“The GCB has allowed us to use the LBI facility from August 9, since the National U-17 team has to use the venue before they depart for Trinidad for the Regional U-17 tournament,
which starts on August 11,” added Nidia.

“Despite the adverse weather, we are satisfied with our preparations. The team was presented with uniforms, and a group photo was taken after the last practice match against the MSC U-19 boys. We had an opportunity to see where we had to work on. We were pleased with our bowling and fielding …our girls ran out three of their batters.”
“But apart from Naomi Barkoye and Anestecia Valenzuela, who both hit off their fast bowler, our batting is the biggest worry. We have one more match to get that right,” continued Nidia, who is playing a massive role in this programme.

Precision Sports thanked the GCB, Malteenoes Sports Club and the sponsors for the support.
The squad: Varuni Pitamber, Naomi Barkoye, Tilleya Madramootoo, Yonette Welcome, Anestecia Valenzuela, Cianna Barkoye, Crystal Durant, Tamar George, Tiea Isaacs, Afifah Wickham, Tremaine Marks, Shenesa Thomas, Danellie Manns, Analesia D’Aguiar and Shonette Belgrave. Rawle Merrel is the Coach, and Jamella Chesney is the Manager.