Limacol CPL will aid young players’ development – Sarwan…says Guyana Amazon Warriors chances good as any

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyana Amazon Warriors senior batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan, believes the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will provide a solid platform for the young talents of the region to be showcased, and in turn, help the West Indies to consistently produce quality players at the international level.

He made the comment on Saturday afternoon, moments after a local Limacol CPL team hosted a media briefing at Duke Lodge in Kingston.
The 33-year-old Sarwan, a former West Indies captain and veteran of 87 Tests, 181 ODIs and 18 T20Is, reasoned that the Limacol CPL is an excellent opportunity for up and coming players to announce themselves to the world.
“I think it’s exciting,” he opined. “Obviously, it’s an opportunity being provided for young players in the Caribbean. Of course we know the excitement that surrounds T20, so I think to have something similar to the IPL [Indian Premier League] to showcase the talents we have in the Caribbean and to have players from abroad who will be sharing their experiences and helping our younger players, I think is something great for West Indies cricket.”
With the Limacol CPL format allowing for two Under-23 players in each of the six franchises, Sarwan added that his role in the Guyana Amazon Warriors unit, apart from stabilising the middle-order, would be to offer guidance to the emerging players.
“Obviously [my role would be] to try and support the younger guys. On a personal note, I would want to try and gain as much experience as possible and learn from the players around me, while sharing my own experiences to help the younger players,” he posited.
Great record
Based on his record, Sarwan should be a leading candidate to the lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise in the July 30 to August 24 league.
He led Guyana to victory in the inaugural Stanford 20/ 20 in 2006 when a magnificent slog sweep for six by Narsingh Deonarine off leg-spinner Samuel Badree sealed victory against Trinidad and Tobago. He was also in charge in the first Caribbean T20 in 2010 when a Jonathon Foo cameo powered Guyana past Barbados in the final.
Should he be appointed captain, Sarwan, who has a record of 19 wins, 12 losses and two no-results, will be in a prime position to continue Guyana’s tradition of winning the first installment of T20 competitions in the region.
Questioned on Guyana’s chances of creating history by winning the inaugural Limacol CPL, Sarwan said, “I think we stand a good chance like any other team. A lot of the teams have very good players, and obviously foreign and local players, so I think it will be an exciting tournament and hopefully at the end of the day, may the best team win… and that would hopefully be Guyana.”
Sarwan apart, the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise includes Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, James Franklin, Christopher Barnwell, Krishmar Santokie, Williams Perkin, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Narsingh Deonarine, Veerasammy Permaul and Martin Guptill.
Limacol’s investment
Commenting on New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation’s (NEW GPC INC.) acquisition of the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ franchise and subsequently becoming title sponsor of the CPL, through its Limacol brand, Sarwan said it is a step in the right direction for cricket in the Caribbean.
“I think it’s great for the whole country. Obviously for Dr [Ranjisinghi] Ramroop [NEW GPC executive chairman], I think it’s a great achievement and let’s hope that this will help in the long term development of West Indies cricket,” he said.
NEW GPC’s sponsorship is a multi-year agreement which will affect all aspects of the tournament, from branding and uniforms to advertising, marketing and promotions.
Limacol is a well-established and respected brand that is distributed throughout the Caribbean as well as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
The Limacol CPL will be contested by the Antigua and Barbuda Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.