‘Will be nice to be back in the maroon colours’ – Sarwan
RAMNARESH Sarwan says that it will be nice to be back in the iconic maroon colours for the 2026 International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup as he is set to represent West Indies.
The 16-team tournament bowls off on Saturday, October 17th.
Sarwan, the 46-year-old former West Indies captain, scored 15 centuries in 87 tests and played 181 ODIs and 18 T20s during his international career.
Sarwan played his last international match against India on June 11, 2013, 21 days before his 33rd birthday.
The West Indies team for this second edition of the Masters tournament will be led by another ex-West Indies skipper, wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin. The team will also be represented by multiple players having international experience.
Sarwan also mentioned that he was excited to be selected and stated that it will be challenging in terms of fitness but that he is ready for the task ahead.
The former Guyana and West Indies Captain was speaking on Tuesday night’s Sean Devers’ Sports Watch in Georgetown, Guyana.
“It will be nice to be back in the maroon colours again; I [am] really excited and looking forward to do well,” Sarwan commented.
According to the right-handed Sarwan, it will be great for Guyana’s tourism too, since players around the globe will here for two straight weeks and fans can also expect some competitive cricket throughout the tournament.
“[It is] Good for the economy of Guyana. Sports play a big part in tourism so I am sure the players and their families will have a great time in Guyana,” Sarwan, who led Guyana to the first Stanford T20 title in 2006, declared.
Sarwan also said that veteran cricket will be exciting, but players are not in their late 20s or early 30s so he emphasised the importance of training and keeping a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to Sarwan, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Devendra Bishoo are the other Guyanese to play Test cricket in the West Indies squad.
West Indies will open their campaign against Australia at the National Stadium, Providence.
Cricketing enthusiasts from all three counties will have an opportunity to see the games since the West Indies are scheduled to play at Albion in Berbice and at the Joe Jagmohan Ground and Anna Regina Stadium in Essequibo.
Four matches are scheduled for the Essequibo Coast where West Indies will be involved in the only Day/Night contest under lights at the impressive Anna Regina Stadium.
Five matches are set for Albion, where West Indies beat Pakistan in the first ODI in the Caribbean in 1977. The Pakistan against India clash will also be staged there.
The top four teams at the end of the preliminary stage will progress to the semi-finals.
West Indies is in Group B alongside, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Colombia, Wales, Canada and Sri Lanka.
The Group B teams are: England, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Scotland, USA, Rest of the World X1 and Rest of the Caribbean Team.
