2014 Limacol CPL T20
By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
Three former Guyana first-class players have thrown their support behind the Guyana Amazon Warriors to win the second edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) LIMACOL T20 which gets cracking shortly.
Jeremy Gordon
All-rounder Damodar Daesrath, fast-bowler Jeremy Gordon and wicketkeeper/batsman Azib Alli-Haniff believe the Guyanese combination will make a greater impact on this occasion after they were beaten in the final last year.
Jamaica Tallawahs emerged victorious but Daesrath, an ex-Guyana captain, stated that the team’s strength is about their batting and once they play to their true potential, winning the championship is definitely on.
“I think it will be a great tournament again and good contest generally; Guyana’s batting looks good but I think the bowling needs to improve a little but I [am] still confident the guys will win the competition this year,” the right-handed batsman explained during an exclusive interview with this publication.
The Amazon Warriors will open their campaign against Antigua Hawksbills on July 11 in Grenada before they play three of their nine preliminary games at home, on July 17 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (19:30h), July 19 against St Lucia Zouks (16:00h) and July 20 against Jamaica Tallawahs (16:00h).
They will then play Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 24; Barbados Tridents on July 27; Jamaica Tallawahs on August 2; Antigua Hawksbills on August 7; and St Lucia Zouks on August 10 in their final preliminary game.
The Berbician Daesrath, who also represented the West Indies at the youth level, has been a regular member on the senior Canadian side competing at the International Cricket Council Associated tournaments for the past three years.
Gordon, who like Daesrath, is also playing for Canada at the highest level consistently, is very optimist his countrymen have the ability to churn out great performances and ultimately win this year’s competition.
“I think Guyana has a really balance side and I think they stand a really good chance of winning it this year,” the right-arm quickie declared.
Alli-Haniff has expressed similar sentiments of Daesrath and Gordon but feels the bunch of youngsters may be a challenge for them in this highly anticipated exciting tournament.
“To be honest, I think they have a good chance but winning it and go forward I think with so much youngster in the team, experience will be a major factor to finish on the top; however, I am still confident our boys back home can pull things off this year, Alli-Haniff related.
The side will be led by current West Indies test captain and Trinidadian Denesh Ramdin while his compatriot Omar Khan is still the manager and Guyana Roger Harper as the head coach.
Guyana Amazon Warriors team reads: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.
The Under-19 players are Shimron Hetmeyer, Akshaya Persaud, Kevin Paul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Daniel Basdeo and Kemo Paul.
