TORONTO, Canada – Three players with Guyanese roots, Raqib Shamsudeen, Matthew Nandu and Arjuna Sukhu have been included in Cricket Ontario youth squads, set to participate in this weekend’s USA Open cricket tournament. The three will don colours in the Under-17 category which bowls off today in Florida.

The tall and lanky Shamsudeen, who represented Canada in the West Indies Under-19 tournament, played in St Kitts earlier this year, also played a dominant role in Kaieteur B’s victory in the final of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) second division tournament, slamming a superb unbeaten 58 and grabbing three for 17.

Sukhu, who opened the batting in the same game, also bowls off-spin, while Nandu, the son of former Guyana Under-19 leg-spinner Arjune Nandu is a competent all-rounder.
Shamsudeen and Nandu will represent Ontario Red while Sukhu will be part of Ontario Green.

Ontario Green will be coached by Sheriff Bodhoo with Vish Jadunauth as the manager, both Guyanese-born officials, while the Red will see former Canadian captain Farouk Kirmani perform the duties of coach and Praim Persaud, who also hails from Guyana, will do the managerial duties.

Matches are scheduled for the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium with the play-offs taking place on Sunday and Monday.

Team Red: Aditya Pandya, Eshan Sensarma, Ethan Gibson, Gurjot Gosal, Hussain Siddiqui, Jash Shah, Matthew Nandu, Muhammad Kamal, Raqib Shamsudeen, Rushil Patel, Shashwat Negi, Tiaan Pretorius, Varnan Naress.

Team Green: Afseh Khan, Akus Sondhi, Anindya Das, Arjuna Sukhu, Cole Batstone, Darshil Patel, Jinit Kansara. Mihir Patel, Mohit Prashar, Rudra Patel, Siddh Lad, Sheel Patel, Yasir Mahmood. (Frederick Halley)