Drepaul replaces Mohamed as National youth selector

Apr 29, 2009 Sports

Says he is happy to make an input to Guyana’s cricket

Chairman of the Demerara youth selection panel Nazimul Drepaul has been appointed to replace former Guyana first-class wicketkeeper Sheik Mohamed on the three-man national youth selection panel.

Drepaul joins Chairman Michael Hyles Franco and Faizul Bacchus after Mohamed resigned after less than four months in the job.

Three’s company! From left: New national youth selectors Michael Hyles Franco, Faizul Bacchus and Nazimaul Drepaul together for the first time as a team during the GTM Inter-County match in Essequibo.

Only two selectors were present for the opening round GTM under-19 three-day game between Demerara and Essequibo, which was played from April 22-24 at the Anna Regina ground in Essequibo and the first two days of the second round match between Essequibo and Berbice at the same venue which began on April 26.

Bacchus, a Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Vice-President confirmed Drepaul’s appointment and said the absence of the third selector from the majority of Essequibo’s leg of the tournament should not pose too much of a problem when the selectors sit to name the national under-19 trial squad once the new selector is open to constructive discussion.

“He would not have seen much of the players perform in the first two matches and might not be able to make a very big input in the selection process but I don’t foresee a problem when we sit to pick the squad for trails,” the official said.

Hyles-Franco said he was informed of Drepaul’s appointment on Sunday. The 49-year-old Drepaul was present for the entire final day of the second round match on the Essequibo Coast which is about two and a have hours (by road and river) from the Capitol Georgetown.

The former opening batsman, who played first division cricket for Everest in the 1970 and 80s, said he was confident of doing a good job since he has been selecting Georgetown teams for the last eight years and has been a Demerara selector for three years.

“I willingly agreed to join the panel when I was asked and I am happy to make an input for Guyana and West Indies cricket,” Drepaul said.

Essequibo took first innings points in their drawn opening match against Demerara and lost outright to defending champions Berbice.

The One-day competition commences on April 30 when Demerara face Essequibo at Police and continue the next day in Blairmont Berbice when Berbice host Essequibo before Demerara and Berbice clash in the city in the final one-day game on May 3.

The final round three-day match is set for the Guyana National Stadium from May 5-7 and the GTM tournament is being used to select a squad to compete in trial matches as Guyana prepare for this year’s regional under-19 tournament. (Sean Devers)