Skipper Permaul confident A-Team can emulate seniors
NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) – Veerasammy Permaul was confident West Indies-A could follow in the footsteps of their senior counterparts and overcome Bangladesh-A in their series, with the first ‘Test’ starting today at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Permaul was the surprising choice to take over the leadership of the side, following an ankle injury that has sidelined West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.
“It’s really unfortunate that Bravo got injured, especially since he is such a senior player and we wish him a speedy recovery,” said the 22-year-old left-arm spinner.
“Captaincy of the A-Team is an honour and it gives me an opportunity to captain players who have played for the West Indies senior team and I will be looking to them for their support and advice as well.”
Bravo suffered the injury during the team’s training session on Thursday and has travelled back to Trinidad & Tobago. A replacement player has not yet been named.
“I’ve played with most of the players in the team already and I’m comfortable with them,. We have a good understanding and I am sure I will receive the full support of the senior guys so once the team goes out and gives 110 per cent I believe we will come out on top,” said Permaul.
He said his stint at the West Indies High Performance Centre equipped him to be able to handle the rigours of leadership.
Permaul noted that there are a few HPC teammates in the A-Team which should help to make things a little easier.
He said he would also draw on the experience of leading players like West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, as well as out-of-favour West Indies batsmen Sewnarine Chattergoon and Narsingh Deonarine from club cricket in his native Guyana.
“We have a good group of players in this A-Team and it will be a learning experience for all of us and I think the key will be to go out and play tough cricket in all departments and we will prevail,” Permaul said.
Bangladesh have named four players from the senior squad that stared down the senior West Indies side in their A-Team.
Raqibul Hasan has been around the senior Bangladesh side for a long time, teenager Nasir Hossain is a highly rated off-spin bowling all-rounder for the past few years, fellow off-spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo made his Test debut in the recent series against the West Indies seniors, and Shuvagata Hom is a batsman they hope will solve their middle order crisis.
The second ‘Test’ between the two sides takes place from November 12 to 15 at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia to be followed by two Twenty20 matches at the same venue on November 18 and 19, and three One-day matches on November 23, 25 and 27 – all at the Arnos Vale Multiplex in St. Vincent.
Squads:
WEST INDIES-A from:: Veerasammy Permaul (captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Rajendra Chandrika, Kyle Corbin, Shannon Gabriel, Danza Hyatt, Sunil Narine, Nelon Pascal, Andre Russell, Devon Thomas.
BANGLADESH-A from: Jahurul Islam (captain), Alauddin Babu, Junaid Siddique, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mithun Ali, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Nasiruddin Faruque, Noor Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Robiul Islam, Shohag Gazi, Shuvagata Hom, Suhrawadi Shuvo.