‘Behind the scenes happenings should not affect focus’

Sep 06, 2011 Sports

– Says Coach Harper ahead of today’s t20 against T&T

Despite the threat of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to take action against their players in the National team to face Trinidad and Tobago today at Bourda in a t20 encounter, the Berbicians were all present at the team’s practice session yesterday at Everest.
Coach Mark Harper says this is a very important game since it is a regional encounter against the West Indies t20 champions and an ideal opportunity for the Guyanese to participate in high-level competition.

Coach Mark Harper (right) watches Kellon Carmichael bowl to Andre Lyght Junior during the national t20 team’s practice session at Everest yesterday.

Harper, a former Guyana middle order batsman, said that while the very short preparation period was not ideal, all the players involved participated in the recent Jam Zone cricket and are all eager to get into action today and Wednesday.
Royston Crandon, one of Berbicians to put country ahead of politics and make himself available for national selection despite his county board’s order, will captain the side today with West Indies t20 all-rounder Chris Barnwell as his Vice-Captain.
Andrew Lyght Junior, former West Indies under-19 opener Trevon Griffith and ex-national youth player Kellon Carmichael are the only new caps in the Guyana side and Harper said the two practice matches were good for T&T who are preparing to represent the West Indies in the Champions League t20 tournament in India later this month.
“When we qualified for South Africa last year they (T&T) came here to help us prepare. I think these two games will be very competitive and beneficial to players on both teams. We are not focusing on the behind the scenes happenings but on playing good, hard cricket and representing our country well,” Harper disclosed.
T&T has won two of the four regional t20 competitions with Guyana beating them on the other occasions to take the titles and the team from the Twin-Island Republic was expected in Guyana last night for the two matches.
While Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard will play for their ‘adopted teams’ instead of T&T in the Champions League, the T&T side, which is led by Daren Ganga, is still a very formidable one with West Indies players Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdeen and Ravi Rampaul in the side.
The match is scheduled to commence at 14:00hrs and admission is free.