Guyanese Damodar Daesrath in Canada’s team for ICC championship

By Ravendra Madholall –

Guyanese all-rounder Damodar Daesrath has been named in Canada’s team for the upcoming annual International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket League Championships which got underway on Monday in Dubai.
Coach of the team, former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Gus Logie has expressed great confidence the guys will make a good showing in the competition, which is being used primarily for their 2015 ICC World Cup 50-over qualification.

Daesrath, a former Guyana senior captain, is the lone player from the Caribbean included this time in the North American side and he revealed he should make a big contribution towards the team’s ambition at the World Cup level.
The 31-year-old right-handed batsman and off-spinner plays for Brampton Masters Cricket Club in Toronto, after settling down in Canada a decade ago. Daesrath was born in Berbice and represented Guyana at the youth level too.
“I [am] confident I will do well for my team on this trip; I think we have a balanced side and that has given me the confidence we need to can compete with the rest of the associated teams to get qualified for the mega ICC world Cup in 2015,”Daesrath related.
Canada will begin their campaign against Kenya in two 50-over games before taking on the same opponent in two T20 contests and then a solitary four-day clash. All the matches will be played at the ICC Global Cricket Academy.
“We have known our level of the game, having participated in a number of domestic competitions leading up to this assignment; the guys have shown a lot of eagerness and they worked hard too.I think with Gus (Logie) around and with his wealth of experiencwe should able to show the world that we are capable of getting into the world cup tournament,” Daesrath, who featured in 16 four-day and eight one-day matches for Guyana, divulged.
Meanwhile, Logie, who has been in and out of the side in this capacity since 2003, was also full of confidence that the guys are ready to make a name abroad.

“We have been preparing hard for the competition; we had a few practice matches in Trinidad and I think that really helped us immensely to get ourselves ready for this important tournament. We have a good bunch of players who can create a tremendous impact and take the team to biggest competition,” the 52-year-old Logie reckoned.
Logie also feels Canada could produce quality players, but once these talented cricketers put in the extra effort, they can put the North American country a far way.
“There is always talent in Canada’s cricket; the weather may be a daunting factor but once these guys get to play cricket on a regular basis, I think they will do well at all levels. We have had several overseas trips and they showed the kind of enthusiasm and determination to succeed, so I guess things can get better for the betterment of the game soon,” Logie, who played 52 tests, reasoned.
Daesrath’s compatriot Jeremy Gordon was also named in the team initially, but pulled out just before the departure ,owing to personal reasons. The former Guyana fast bowler Gordon, represented Canada also last year in Scotland.
Like Daesrath, Gordon plays for Brampton Masters.