Guyana Jaguars who won the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day tournament. Photo: WICB
By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
Great representation by Guyana Jaguars following their resounding 2014/2015 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) revamped Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day tournament, according to Hemnarine Chattergoon who lavished praises owing to their sterling performances.
Having triumphed with a title after a drought of 17 consecutive years, the former West Indies and Guyana under-19 batsman proudly believes the Guyanese lads thoroughly deserved the championship regaining the prestigious trophy.
The elegant right-hander, who still plays professionally in Canada since taking up residence more than a decade ago, stated that the double-round should also help West Indies’ cricket hugely and subsequently they can bring better results at the international level.
Guyana Jaguars ended impressively with 148 points winning an exceptional eight matches, losing only one game and engaged in a draw.
“They definitely deserved the trophy after so long and I think this could able to inspire them from here on; there is no doubt about talent in Guyana as we saw at this competition,” Chattergoon related.
The Berbician Chattergoon, the eldest brother of the four that played for Guyana including former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon, has credited the local cricket in Guyana for the consistency shown by the senior players on this occasion.
He now rated the transformation from the local to the regional level very excellent and mentioning the veterans came to the fore as well. Legendary batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul among them while Narsingh Deonarine, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Raymond Riefer, Rajindra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell played terrific role throughout the season.
“Success is always important and what Guyana Jaguars team achieved this year by winning the tournament was very heartening and a sign of the structure of our cricket back home locally.
I just want to take this opportunity to congratulate them too and I am confident they can return to winning ways from this year,” Chattergoon, who played for Canada at the highest level too, commented.
Albion spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo were amazing churning out some captivating bowling performances snapping a combined 128 wickets.
Left-arm orthodox test player Permaul once again proved his ability with 67 scalps while his fellow international colleague, the leggie Bishoo emerged with 61 victims.
“Obviously, the bowling department was outstanding with these two established bowlers dominated from the start to the end and that demonstrated their and the team’s confidence to be on top, so I think it was a total team’s effort,” Chattergoon reckoned.
He further declared that the discipline, determination, perseverance, commitment and temperament were some of the ingredients for Jaguars’ successful run and once utilize effectively in the future, they should be an unbeatable side again.
In addition to that, he lauded the effort of the management team which certainly worked tirelessly to ensure the South American unit regaining regional glory.
Head coach Eusan Crandon and his assistant Rayon Griffith really verified their technical skills to play a pivotal role and no doubt the jubilation is overwhelming, says Chattergoon.
Guyana Jaguars’ loss came to Barbados Pride at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The Bajans were eventually dethroned but finished the competition as the second-place winner.
Meanwhile, Guyana last won the tournament in 1998 when they shared the spoils with Leeward Islands tallying ten titles since regional longest version cricket was introduced in 1968.