Why was Foo not picked for Super50?

Jan 03, 2016 Sports

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Asks Sean Devers

Albion’s 25-year-old right-hander Jonathan Alexander Foo must have been the most surprised young man in Berbice when he got the news that he was not in the Guyana Jaguars’ 14-man squad to travel St Kitts for their opening NAGICO Super50 game against the Windwards on Thursday.
The pugnacious batsman, who now bowls decent off-spin, has worked very hard on his fittest over the last six months and that one of the things which contributed to his success in the local Franchise 50 overs League, which was used to help select the team to play in St Kitts.
Playing for Upper Corentyne, Foo scored the most runs and was one of six batsmen with centuries in the League in which he also bowled impressively. A lack of fitness and commitment were reasons the career of the Berbician took a nose dive after he played all of three of his List ‘A’ (50-over) games in 2011.
Foo had announced his arrival at the Regional level with a match winning 17-ball unbeaten 42 against Barbados in the WICB t20 final to earn for Guyana a spot in the 2010 champions League in South Africa.
The former Guyana youth player failed to fire on the bouncy tracks in South Africa and faded away after playing for the West Indies ‘A’ the following year.
Foo tried to make a successful come back last year when he played in New York but again fitness issues continued to be his bug bear.

Jonathan Foo

But all of that changed with the introduction of rigorous training seasons from last August as the Jaguars commenced preparations for their PCL title defence.
Foo got fitter, put on muscle and more importantly began batting with a new found maturity and responsibility and after his good knocks the Local 50 overs Franchise League many felt he was an automatic pick for Super50 tournament and his omission was shocking.
The eventual 14-man squad included three new comers to Regional One-Day cricket in Essequibian opener Kevin Boodie, Albion left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and Tucber Park’s fast bowler Romario Shepherd.
While the inclusion of Motie and Boodie came as no surprise, the selection of Shepherd raised eyebrows since West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph and Raun Johnson were way ahead of him on the pecking order.
It also seems a waste of money to buy Barbadian fast bowling all-rounder Jevon Searles if he is not picked for the First-Class or One-Day teams.
Selecting Shiv Chanderpaul, who turns 42 this year and is unlikely to make a return to the West Indies side, for a format in which Assad Fudadin and Vishaul Singh could play the role that he plays, leaves no room in the squad for the attacking Foo and young players like his son Tagenarine and Sherfane Rutherford, who could have also provided lively spells with the ball.
With Fudadin and Boodie expected to open and Skipper Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh and Royston Crandon, being the other specialist batsmen there is no need for Chanderpaul, who did not participate in any of the two practice matches.
Anthony Bramble, Raymon Refier, Chris Barnwell and Steven Jacobs are all-rounders while Veerasammy Permaul is also capable of runs at this level.
Chanderpaul is keeping out a young batsman, including his son, from gaining experience at this level and could better serve the team by being the batting consultant for the young brigade.
Guyana Jaguars squad: Assad Fudadin, Kevin Boodie, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell (Vice-captain), Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul, Paul Wintz, Gudakesh Motie, Royston Crandon, Romario Shepherd