Ramnauth, Heyliger slam selectors for non-inclusion of Essequibians

Jan 28, 2021 Sports

Dillon Heyliger (left) and Devon Ramnauth

Kaieteur News – Devon Ramnauth and Dillon Heyliger, two former national youth players, have expressed disappointment with Guyana’s selectors after they did not include any player from Essequibo for the forthcoming Super50 tournament early next month in Antigua.
According to Ramnauth and Heyliger, three players should have made the side automatically because they would have put in good performances over the years in the franchise cricket which is being used primarily to select players for the regional assignment.The trio is: wicketkeeper/batsman Kevol Savory, left-arm spinner Anthony Adams and all-rounder Ricardo Adams (unrelated), while fast-bowler Rensford Beaton is a question mark too.
None of the players were able to catch the eyes of the selectors as the touring party consisted of players from Berbice and Demerara only.
Guyana Jaguars are set to open their campaign against Barbados Pride in the six-team competition which runs from February 7-27.
Ramnauth and Heyliger, both played junior and senior cricket for Essequibo but want greater representation for the players who were overlooked for the tournament.
They believe the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) should really play a bigger role in ensuring their players are selected to represent the national team because they are talented enough and more importantly have put up good performances.
“Essequibo County players have long been neglected and our talented players are being stifled because of non-representation from the ECB.”
We need answers ECB!” I’m calling out the president of the ECB Fizul Bacchus and the other executives to publicly address this matter,” Ramnauth disclosed.
Heyliger and Ramnauth are currently residing in Canada. Heyliger continued to ply his trade in North America and is a member of the Canadian international side. He also mentioned that the ECB can do better to make sure their players are well-represented at all levels.
“This is very disappointing to learn that these three players have done well but cannot find themselves in the Guyana Jaguars squad; the ECB have got to be more proactive and get their act together for the betterment of our cricket in Essequibo; they need to be more supportive of our talents,” Heyliger, a versatile all-rounder lamented.
In 2019 when the tournament was held in Trinidad and Tobago, Savory made an auspicious start to the 50-over career hitting an unbeaten 71 against eventual champion West Indies Emerging side. That year Beaton was part of the team as the other Essequibo cricketer.
Ricardo Adams made his debut in 2018 and did not play back, while Anthony has shown consistency with the ball in the franchised cricket and made a good impression in the four-day version.
Meanwhile, Beaton has been out of cricket for a while due to his bowling action but was part of the camp in preparations for the tournament. According to reports, these players have not passed their fitness test, but both Ramnauth and Heyliger want to know what was the criteria to be fit in an effort to make the team.
“We want answers to how you are going about selecting the team; the selection must be justifiable and transparent so the players would not suffer,” Ramnauth declared.
“We need the leader to come forward and give the right representation; this has been going on and on for years now; the results are there and these players should be selected,” Heyliger divulged.

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