Guyana and West Indies middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul could be included in the Guyana side to play England despite the national cricket selectors naming their 13-man squad yesterday.
Reliable sources yesterday told Stabroek Sport that efforts were being made to contact the dependable left-hander to ascertain if he would be available to represent Guyana against the touring England cricketers in the one-day game next Friday.
Chanderpaul was surprisingly dropped from the West Indies squad for the fourth test against England in Antigua despite scoring a half-century in the last test in Barbados.
Former West Indies left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell has been named captain of a young Guyana team to oppose the touring England cricket team in a warm-up one-day match at Everest on April 16.
McGarrell, who led Guyana in the first five rounds of the 2004 Carib Beer regional first-class season is the only player with test experience in the local side since leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo has made himself unavailable to take up an overseas contract.
Former test pacer Reon King, back in the country from South Africa where he was playing professionally, is also unavailable since he is due to leave the country on Thursday.
West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who should be an automatic pick for the fourth test which starts tomorrow and the first One-Day international scheduled for April 18 at Bourda, was not considered for selection for the Guyana team.
Chanderpaul was reportedly dropped from the West Indies team because he was reluctant to take a medical examination in Barbados after the West Indies selection panel felt the reliable left-hander 'looked tired and lethargic' in the last test which the West Indies lost in three days.
According to a Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) source, the Guyana team for the one-day game against England was selected before Chanderpaul, who has a better batting average in this series than star batsman Brian Lara, was omitted from the fourth test squad.
Chanderpaul, who made 42 in the second test in Trinidad when Lara played with an injured finger, has been replaced by Antiguan Sylvester Joseph who seems set to make his test debut on home soil.
Sources close to the GCB indicated that the selectors were advised to give fast bowler Reon Griffith, who is playing club cricket in Trinidad, 'a rest' at this time.
All-rounder Lennox Cush, who is also playing club cricket in Trinidad, has been re-called to the side for next Friday's game after he was dropped from the Guyana Carib Beer team following his involvement in a fist fight with Mahendra Nagamootoo in Dominica.
It is understood that if Chanderpaul (only one of two present West Indies players with a test average above 40) makes himself available for the Guyana game against England he will be accommodated. His participation will afford him the chance to prove that he is match ready to be selected for the first one-day international on his home ground.
While there is no place for Travis Dowlin, openers Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ryan Ramdass and Krishna Arjune along with middle-order batsman Narsingh Deonarine and batting all-rounder Damodar Daesrath have all kept their places in the side.
The selectors have given the impression that they are using this game to give the young players international exposure with the selection of teenagers Zaheer Mohamed, Assad Fudadin and Zamal Khan for their first game at the senior one-day level.
While Travis Dowlin's omission could be to give youth a chance, the non selection of 16-year-old first class player Leon Johnson could be an indication that the selectors feel the GCC left-hander's style is not fully suited for one-day cricket.
Experienced wicket-keeper Vishal Nagamootoo has maintained his place in the Guyana one-day side although the hard-hitting Derwin Christian could have been a contender for a one-day pick.
Fast bowling all-rounder Eusan Crandon, a useful one-day player has also been over looked. With the West Indies selectors searching for young fast bowlers, Daesrath could be asked to open the bowling
with young Essequibian Trevon Garraway, who gets the nod to make his national senior team debut ahead of his inter-county new ball partner Reon Thomas.
Left arm-spinner Hemnarine Harrinarine who played a solitary first class game for Guyana, gets his first chance to play for his country at the senior one-day level.
Plans are being put in place for NCN Radio and NCN Television to carry the game live.
The Guyana team is- N. McGarrell (captain), R. Ramdass, S. Chattergoon, K. Arjune, N. Deonarine, L. Cush, D. Daesrath, A. Fudadin, Z. Mohamed, Z. Khan, V.Nagamootoo, T. Garraway, H. Harrinarine. The Manager and coach of the team were expected to be named last evening by the GCB.