PHILIPSBURG--As with the run up to the Caribbean T20 tournament, whereby Guyana cricketers and administrators were in the news for all the wrong reasons, again the same unsolved mystery is dominating the headlines before the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day tournament bowls off around the region today.
The government-backed Interim Management Committee (IMC) got shut out once again, as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was allowed by the WICB to select the team to represent Guyana, although the IMC had picked a squad and captain.
The WICB had to reschedule all of the country's home matches, because the Guyana National Stadium is owned and controlled by the government. Guyana's first two matches will be played in Dominica and it will not have any its matches at home. They will be the only team on the road for the duration of the tournament.
Even more disheartening is that President of GCB Ramsay Ali reported that Ramnaresh Sarwan had told him that he was not available to play for Guyana. A few days later, it was announced that Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not available for the first four matches, because he had chosen to play in the Bangladesh Premier League; a T20 tourney with decent financial gain.
Chanderpaul and Sarwan have been Guyana's batting linchpin for more than 10 years and without the two in the team, Guyana's chances of winning the title are as slim as the government aborting the ring-road project in Philipsburg.
Today, Guyana takes on the Leeward Islands from 10:00am. The Leeward Islands will be led for the first time by Antiguan Gavin Williams, who played only seven first-class matches. Guyana has a new captain in Veerasammy Premaul.
Other matches that will be played this weekend are as follow: defending champion Jamaica hosts a Darren Sammy-less Windward Islands; Trinidad and Tobago takes on Combined Colleges and Campuses, while Barbados has a bye.
Sammy, who captained the Windward Islands in the Caribbean T20, was asked by the WICB to take a rest for the first round.
Another interesting feature for this tournament is the reintroduction of the pink ball. This type of ball will be used in night matches. The match between T&T and CCC will feature the use of the pink ball. All teams will play at least one match with the pink ball instead of the regular red ball.
With the series against the Australians starting next month, players will be concentrating on their performances to impress the selectors.
The Leeward Islands team, again without St. Maarten players, will be picked from Gavin Williams (captain), Kieran Powell (vice captain), Shane Jeffers, Orlando Peters, Gavin Tonge, Larry Joseph, Anthony Martin, Steve Liburd, Tonito Willet, Nelson Bolan, Jason Campbell, Devon Thomas, Jahmar Hamilton.
The following members make up the Guyana travel party: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Rajendra Chandrika, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Chandepaul Hemraj, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian, Christopher Barnwell, Brandon Bess, Veerasammy Permaul, Davendra Bishoo and Ronsford Beaton.
