Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Why no Berbice U-19 player in CPL squad
Is it just a bad selection or politics?
Asks Sean Devers
The non inclusion of the West Indies under-19 pair of batsman Shemron Hetmyer and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Mottie-Kanhai among the four under-19 players in the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad has raised eyebrows among those who have been following
Shemron Hetmyer
Guyana’s cricket.
Hetmyer had to be the first pick if the selectors were looking for a teenage batsman for any T20 team especially since Taignarine Chanderpaul, left-handed Demerara under-19 pacer Daniel Basdeo, Kevin Paul, a fast bowler who also represented Demerara at the under-19 level and Kemo Paul were selected.
Chanderpaul is Guyana’s most correct under-19 batsman. He displays the temperament of his prolific father Shiv Chanderpaul and at 17, is one who could go on to play Test cricket, if the present cricket crisis is resolved.
However, young Chanderpaul, who has a low strike-rate, is not a T20 player, at least not yet. He should not be forced into this area before he better learns to manipulate the ball into gaps since T20 cricket at this juncture of his fledging career, could result in the talented youngster developing bad habits.
Essequibo senior Inter-County all rounder Kemo Paul is certainly one for the future and at just 16 rubbing shoulders with senior International players should do him a world of good. However, Kevin Paul and Basdeo are surprise inclusions in the Warriors’ line-up.
When contacted Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach Roger Harper explained that while he played no part in the selection of the teenagers for his team, he understands that four under-19 players had to be included and that because it was a developmental programme the Regional Boards were tasked with the responsibility of recommending the under-19 foursome.
When Kaieteur Sport contacted Chairman of the senior GCB selection panel Rayon Griffith, the former National pacer said he was not involved in the selection of junior players but expressed surprise that Hetmyer was not included.
The GCB junior selection panel comprise of Chairman Azeemul Drepaul, Essequibian Ato Christiani and Berbician Julian Moore. Drepaul declined to comment on the matter but hinted that the selection of the players was not as clear cut as it seemed adding that he was unaware of Kevin Paul’s selection.
With the present situation between the warring factions of the BCB and the GCB ongoing, it could lead to questions being asked if this was just bad selections or a vindictive plot to punish Berbice by not selecting Hetmyer or Mottie-Kanhai, thus depriving the youngsters of their biggest payday to date although they were not expected to play a game in the much hyped event.
But well placed sources close to the Guyana CPL Franchise, informed that Drepaul reportedly wanted Brian Sattaur and Hetmyer but the Franchise, wanted Chanderpaul.
It is also understood that a left-handed fast bowler was required making way for Basdeo’s selection, while the local selectors were reportedly told that the youth players were basically there to provide the batsmen with practice.
However, it must be remembered that players should be picked on merit since they are being paid in US dollars per match since the selectors will be just as guilty as the PPP and APNU, who passed the Cricket Bill and are on the verge of depriving the Guyanese players a fair opportunity of earning, in the likely event that they are banned from Regional Cricket at all levels.
This is certainly not the best combination of Guyana’s teenage talent for a T20 tournament and especially the Berbicians should let their voices be heard publicly in protest to a wrong being perpetrated against their players by the Guyana selectors or the CPL.
If Guyana is banned from Regional tournaments by the WICB, the CPL could be the only cricket Guyanese could participate in and youngsters like Shemron Hetmyer would be unfortunate not to have been included and get the opportunity to earn a decent sum due to no fault of his.
My Editor-in-Chief told me yesterday that nobody cares about what is happening to Guyana’s cricket. Sadly, I am beginning to believe him.
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