– says Warriors latest recruit; Keemo Paul
By Akeem Greene
will be vital assets in the Warriors’ title endeavours
Guyana Amazon Warriors newest recruit Keemo Mandela Angus Paul is ecstatic about his latest accomplishment.
He confessed being more than willing to seize the opportunity with both hands after replacing Shimron Hetmyer, who will be on West Indies senior team duty.
“Definitely there is going be a lot of pressure playing in front such big crowds since I never did before, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity since I see it as a challenge and I will use it to help me gain confidence”, he told Guyana Times International Sport in an interview on Wednesday.
Paul who was Hetmyer’s deputy when the West Indies Under-19 team won the Youth World Cup in 2016 made his List A debut in January 2015 playing for the West Indies Under-19s in Tobago. Since then he grew from strength to strength, making an impressionable debut season for the Guyana Jaguars.
In fact, one his highlights was having a match haul of 9 for 64 against the Windward Islands at Providence to help the three-peat in titles for his team.
“It was a very joyful feeling to be a part of the CPL and if given the opportunity I just want to go out and preform, show my worth and do my best for Guyana”.
Though being a part of previous training camps with the Warriors, the cricketer is eager to learn from the international players.
“Chris Lynn and martin Guptill are guys who hit the ball very clean and I want to learn from them about power hitting and also there is the experience of Sohail Tanveer with the ball and I just want to learn as much as possible from them”, the Essequibo cricketer added.
Given his all-round exploits, Paul said he is confident he can execute attributes such as ‘death bowling’ and being a late-order power hitter.
The player’s selection would bring a great smile to CPL’s Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell who had told this publication that he was seeking to develop a Test cricketer from the hinterland. Though former Warriors’, now Trinbago Knight Riders fast bowler also Ronsford Beaton also hails from Essequibo, Paul comes from Saxacalli, a village deep in the heart of the Essequibo River.
With matches now being held in Florida, a venue where Paul has never plied his trade, he is optimistic of doing well once he adapts to the conditions.
The Warriors have reached three of the four finals to date but have not been able to walk away with the silverware. However, the young cricketer is known to be a ‘lucky charm’ after helping Guyana dominate youth cricket from 2014 to 2016 and added to the icing on the cake with a Youth World Cup win.
Paul is hopeful that he can bring the same fortunes to the Warriors this year.
“I have been training hard and I just want to go and perform and I think we can go one step further this year. I will definitely be doing my best” the right handed batsmen disclosed.
The Warriors will begin their preparation with a one week camp commencing on July 25 before their first match against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Florida on August 5.
