Bajans pick U-17s for final round match against Guyana

Apr 09, 2009 Sports

‘No confidence vote against Seeram and selectors looming’ GCB sources

Ravindranauth Seeram

By Sean Devers
With four consecutive defeats and the title already in the hands of Jamaica, Barbados are investing in the future with the selection of two under-17 players in a young side selected to play Guyana from Saturday at Providence in the final round of the WICB regional four-day cricket series.
The promising 16-year-old Craig Braithwaite and his Barbados under-17 Skipper Jason Holder arrived in Guyana late Tuesday night along with the rest of the Barbados team which is being coached by former West Indies Test pacer Vasbert Drakes.
In addition to Braithwaite and the towering Holder, who both played in last December’s regional under-17 tournament in Trinidad, Rashidi Boucher and Shamar Brooks, who both represented the West Indies in the last under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, are also in the squad.

Overlooked West Indies all-rounder Ryan Hinds, and exuberant fast bowler Tino Best are the only players in the side with Test experience.
The Guyana side has not yet been announced but it is expected that the Guyanese, rocked by poor tactics, inconsistent cricket, questionable selections and cricket politics, could also blood a few youngsters on Saturday in a game which will serve only academic interest since despite the result, Guyana will finish in the cellar position in their worst ever season at this level.

The sacking of Gajanand Singh from the touring squad after he averaged 73 from his only two innings this season and was unbeaten on 43 when Coach Ravindranauth Seeram made a meaningless declaration at Bourda and the benching of in-form batsmen Royston Crandon after he had scored four fifties, were among the many baffling decisions made by Seeram and his selection panel this season.
Seeram, recently sacked as selector by the Demerara Cricket Board could again face the axe since informed sources close to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) informed that a no-confidence vote on the three-man selection panel and Seeram as Coach is being prepared.
Seeram, who contrary to the GCB, only holds a Level 1 Coaching certificate, took over from long-serving coach Albert Smith who was unceremoniously dumped in the middle of this year’s competition when the new GCB executive took office.

Insider’s claim that the dropping of Berbicians Smith, Singh and Crandon is not surprising since Berbice was the only county who voted against the Chetram Singh led GCB.
While it seems a massive fall-out is looming due to internal politics in the GCB it is hoped that the players, all innocent bystanders in the ongoing saga, are not victimized because of the area they are from since unlike the GCB Administrators, cricket is their main profession.
The Barbados side read:-Ryan Hinds, Tino Best, Kevin Stoute, Rashidi Boucher, Craig Braithwaite, Jason Holder, Nicolai Charles, Kirk Edwards, Barrington Yearwood, Shamar Brooks, Kemar Roach, Shane Ramsay, Carlo Morris.

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