National opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul is among six Under-19 players selected by the Guyana Amazon Warriors as part of the local franchise preparatory camp, beginning from July 1, and according to the soft-spoken lefthander, the opportunity is just another developmental phase in his gifted cricket career.
Young Chanderpaul, during an interview with this publication on Tuesday, said he is looking forward to the experience and aims to use it to improve his personal game.
“Definitely I am looking forward to be part of such [a] big tournament and I’m looking to use what will be taught to me to improve my personal game,†Chanderpaul revealed.
He added: “To be among head coach Roger Harper, team mentor Curtly Ambrose and a number of top T20 stars will be great. I will try to learn as much as I can from them, so my personal game can also improve.â€
Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose
Chanderpaul, who represented Guyana in nine first-class games, joins talented Everest Cricket Club fast bowler Kevin Paul; fellow West Indies Under-19 opener Shimron Hetmyer; Demerara Cricket Club left-arm fast bowler Daniel Basdeo; Essequibo all-rounder Kemo Paul; and 16-year-old, West Coast Demerara, batsman Akshaya Persaud.
This year, each franchise team consists of a squad of 19 players, comprising two pre-selected players- one West Indies Franchise Player (WIFP) and one International Franchise Player- (IFP), selected by the franchise, as well as four Under-19 players from each playing franchise.
However, as an initiative geared toward the development of young cricketers, the management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors has widened the pool of Under-19 players to six.
Roger Harper
Roger Harper
The Under-19 players will be involved in all training sessions and other team activities during the Guyana Amazon Warriors camp and match practice scheduled for their home games only. However, the players will not be eligible selection.
The Limacol CPL will be played from July 11 to August 16 with Chris Gayle’s Jamaica Tallawahs set to defend their title against last-year’s runner-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.
The Guyana franchise, bought by the NEW GPC/Limacol, will play three of their nine preliminary games at home, on July 17 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (19:30h), July 19 against St Lucia Zouks (16:00h) and July 20 against Jamaica Tallawahs (16:00h).
Prior to the three home games, the Warriors will play Antigua Hawksbills on July 11; Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 24; Barbados Tridents on July 27; Jamaica Tallawahs on August 2; Antigua Hawksbills on August 7; and St Lucia Zouks on August 10 in their final preliminary game.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors playing squad comprises: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.
