The South Essequibo Cricket Committee (SECC) is up in arms over the non-selection of players from Essequibo and has taken to task the national selectors, questioning the criteria used for selection of the palyers.
The SECC in a press release also demanded that the selectors explain the non-selection of Antony Adams and other players from the Cinderella County.
“The SECC wishes to make a statement on the non-selection of Antony Adams and other players from the county of Essequibo by the selectors and coaches of the Cricket Guyana Inc., (CGI) Guyana Jaguars Franchise team for this year Regional 50 overs tournament,” Public Relations Officer of the committee, Otis Roberts, stated yesterday.
The Guyana Jaguars squad was announced last week with Leon Johnson and Shimron Hetmyer appointed captain and vice-captain respectively.
The other members selected are Chandrapaul Hemraj, Assad Fudadin, Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie, Akshaya Persaud, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith and Romario Shepherd.
No player has been selected from Essequibo.
“The SECC would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the treatment given to Adams over the years as it relates to Jaguars’ selection. We would like to see players such as Adams, Kemol Savory, and Ricardo Adams, all of whom are from the county of Essequibo and have done well over the years at the CGI franchise competitions, be treated with respect and be given fair opportunities to represent their country at the senior level,” the release stated.
The SECC said it wanted to register its displeasure and disappointment with the non-selection of Adams, especially since Veerasammy Permaul, the leading left-arm spinner, was unavailable due to Cricket West Indies duty.
“We strongly believe that this is the time Adams should have been given his opportunity at the Regional level after his consistency over the last three years at the CGI franchise competition and academy,” the SECC release stated.
The 27-year-old Adams has been outstanding especially as a leader. He led the Essequibo franchise to its first senior title, winning the three-day and 50-overs franchise leagues.
In 2019, when the tournament was last held, the left arm orthodox spinner bagged 13 wickets including a best of six for 25 against West Berbice to finish ninth amongst the wicket-takers. He also scored 186 runs including two half centuries.
“Undoubtedly, Antony Adams would have fulfilled the selection criteria with his performances, which are a testimony for the Essequibo Franchise team to be crowned champions in the CGI 50 overs format competitions in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2019 under Adams’ captaincy,” stated the release.
The SECC also stated that they have been “reliably informed that there are players selected, who have not passed the required fitness test [and] the records are there to show.”
As such, the body is demanding to be informed of the grounds that were used to select the players.
“The continuous non-selection of Antony Adams and other Essequibo players cannot be accepted.
“The SECC is humbly calling on the selectors, coaches especially, Rayon Griffith, who hails from South Essequibo Coast, and by extension the CGI, for an explanation. We would like for the CGI to conduct a full review of its operations in the selection of players so that it can represent a more unified team, one which the entire country can be proud of,” the release said.
“Cricket is a game of love and unity. It’s that game that brings our Guyanese people and cricketers together,” the SECC declared.
