Hooper likely for Busta Cup - Singh
By Andrew Richards
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CANA - Retired West Indies allrounder Carl Hooper is interested in representing Guyana in regional cricket and could return for the 2000 Busta Cup tournament starting in January. The 32-year-old Hooper, who made a shock retirement announcement during this year's Cable and Wireless series against Australia, has indicated that he would have made himself available for this month's Red Stripe Bowl if it was convenient for him. According to Chetram Singh, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) president, Hooper -- at the Singapore Challenge Cup last month -- told his former Guyana and West Indies teammate Shivnarine Chanderpaul of his interest in playing for Guyana. "Carl Hooper was there (in Singapore), and the news I got from Chanderpaul was that he would be occupied playing, or doing something during this part of the year, but he is going to try and make himself available to play Busta Cup, starting January," Singh said on the CANA SPORT radio programme yesterday. The classy but unpredictable Hooper, now living in Australia with his wife and son, quit international cricket this year with a Test batting record of 4,153 runs (with nine centuries) at an average of 33.76. In 80 Test appearances, Hooper's off-spin bowling also claimed 93 wickets at an average of 47.01. Singh is anxious to have Hooper back for Guyana in regional cricket to help develop and inspire the younger players. "As a senior player, I think he has a role to play with the youngsters, who are now representing Guyana. "If there is a season or two he could give Guyana in return, we would be very grateful," Singh told CANA.
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