With the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Super50 tournament set to bowl off month-end, the national cricket squad currently encamped ahead of participation in that competition has commenced a rigorous training regime under the guidance of two fitness experts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
The 26-member squad was involved in a high-tempo mid-afternoon session on Wednesday, which was conducted by certified fitness trainers Patrick King and Carl Stephenson of the GDF.
When Guyana Times Sport visited the Everest ground on Wednesday, King and Stephenson were observed leading the players through several drills, including intense runs and tedious free-arm exercises and stretches.
Former West Indies captains Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and some of the other members of the squad during training on Wednesday
Former West Indies captains Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and some of the other members of the squad during training on Wednesday
Paying rapt attention to the work of King and Stephenson and the players’ response to the training were head coach Esaun Crandon, coach Julian Moore and Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Rayon Griffith.
Also present to observe the cricketers in action were GCB Secretary and WICB Director Anand Sanasie and Director of Sport Neil Kumar.
Sanasie said the GCB is investing in quality preparation and it would be up to the squad selected and the management team to deliver positive results. He further stated that the feedback from the coaching staff so far has been good and it is expected that the team should perform well during the January 30- February 17 competition in Trinidad and Tobago.
A release from the GCB earlier this week when the two trainers were appointed to work with the national team stated, “It is expected that all national players achieve a certain level of fitness and the addition of these two specialists will contribute significantly to the players attaining and maintaining that required standard.â€
In addition to the training, which will continue today at the same venue, the players are scheduled to be involved in six practice matches, two of which will be day/night encounters at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The first warm-up game was played on Tuesday at the Everest ground, while the second match will take place on Friday at the same venue.
When the action bowls off month-end, the Guyanese will be aiming for a 10th regional 50-over title, the last of which was achieved in 2005 when they defeated Barbados in near darkness in the final of the KFC Cup at the GCC ground, Bourda.
Prior to that, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.
The first phase of preparation commenced in December with 37 players, but it has been narrowed down to 26 for the second stage, which started on January 3 and will run until January 25.
The 26 still in contention for a place in the final 14, which should be announced today, are: Leon Johnson, Devendra Bishoo, Veersammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Robin Bacchus, Assad Fudadin, Zaheer Mohamed, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Vishal Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Rajiv Ivan, Amir Khan, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shaquille Williams, Narsingh Deonarine, Trevon Griffith, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Jason Sinclair, Paul Wintz, Rajendra Chandrika and Sewnarine Chattergoon.
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