Hooper, Chanderpaul and Sarwan due home tonight
Stabroek News
March 7, 2003
President of the Guyana Cricket Board Chetram Singh has disclosed that West Indies Captain Carl Hooper, and middle-order batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are due in the country tonight.
This effectively means that the trio will not be able to represent Guyana in their sixth round clash of the Carib Beer competition against the India `A’ team which starts this morning at the Bourda ground.
The President could not say whether these batsmen will play in the final match of the round robin stage or in the shield finals should Guyana make it to that stage.
Guyana are presently fourth in the points standings with 30 points after five rounds of the competition and would be hoping for an outright win in this match or at minimum first innings points to boost their chances of making it into the finals.
A loss against India `A’ will severely hurt their chances of qualifying especially if the other teams in contention do well.
The first four teams qualify to play in the shield finals which Guyana won last year on first innings points from Jamaica.
Because of the small gap in points (ten) between the second and sixth placed teams, the race is wide open on which teams will make the final four.
The West Indies were sent packing out of the World Cup after they failed to qualify for the super six stage. After a promising start against hosts South Africa whom they defeated in their first match by four runs the West Indies lost two close but crucial games against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
