“I am looking forward to the challenge,” says Harper

Head coach of the Guyana franchise in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Roger Harper, said he is looking forward to the challenge during the tournament, which bowls off later this year. “I’m delighted and very excited at the opportunity to work with the Guyana franchise, and at the same time, looking forward to the challenge. My objectives will be to get the best out of individual players and the team as a whole,” Harper said.
A former head coach of the West Indies cricket team from 2000 through to the end of the 2003 World Cup, Harper will be assisted by former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose According to Harper, it is a privilege to work alongside the former West Indies legend.
Meanwhile, Harper, who played 25 Tests and 105 ODIs for West Indies between 1983 and 1996 and was regarded as one of the greatest fielders of his generation, indicated that the CPL will definitely re-energise the sport in the Caribbean.
He noted that CPL will present an excellent opportunity for the development of professional cricketers in the region.
“The CPL will provide a new generation of professional cricketers in the Caribbean and will also give the opportunity for the younger players to develop their talents and also play in high level competitions,” Harper opined.
The lucrative CPL is set to bowl off in July, with franchises based in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Each outfit is stipulated to have 11 of their 15 players qualified to play for the West Indies, with four required to be under the age of 23.
Meanwhile, mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine has been assigned as the franchise player for Guyana, while Pakistan’s captain Mohamed Hafeez is the international star.
Other assignments include Antigua, which will be coached by Vivian Richards, who will be assisted by Phillip DeFreitas.
Marlon Samuels has been assigned franchise player, while former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is the international star.
The Barbados team’s head coach is Desmond Haynes and he will be assisted by Robin Singh. Kieron Pollard is the franchise player and Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik is the international star.
Additionally, Paul Nixon will coach Jamaica, assisted by Junior Bennett. Chris Gayle is the franchise player and Sri Lankan legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is the international star.
Team St Lucia franchise player is West Indies captain Darren Sammy and former South African opening batsman, Herschelle Gibbs, the international franchise player.
The head coach is Andy Roberts and his assistant is Matthew Maynard.
Team Trinidad will be led by Dwayne Bravo, while New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is the international franchise player. Former West Indies opening batsman Gordon Greenidge is the head coach and he will be assisted by David Williams.
The Guyana franchise will play three of their seven preliminary games at the National Stadium, Providence, on July 31 against Trinidad and Tobago; August 2 against Jamaica; and August 4 against St Lucia.
They will then play hosts Trinidad and Tobago on August 9 and Barbados on August 11, before playing hosts Jamaica on August 14. Their final preliminary game is against hosts Antigua and Barbuda on August 17.