PCL 4-DAY: Chandrika dropped; Persaud back for fifth round

By Avenash Ramzan

Test opener Rajendra Chandrika has been dropped for the Guyana Jaguars fifth round clash of the Professional Cricket League Four-day competition against Barbados Pride, starting Thursday (November 30) at Providence.

Chandrika, who has suffered a dip in form, makes way for 20-year-old West Demerara left-hander Akshaya Persaud, who was the leading runscorer in the Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition this year.

Persaud had amassed 523 in seven games with a best of 151 not out in 2017, while last year he chalked up 418 runs in six matches with a highest of 155. Persaud, who was picked for the opening round of this year’s regional competition, but was subsequently dropped, is yet to make his First-Class debut.

On the other hand, Chandrika, who played five Test matches in 2015-2016, has been going through a tough period in 2017 with his last five First-Class matches yielding just 176 runs at average of 22. His highest score during this period has been 35.

Chandrika, 28, has played 58 First-Class games, totaling 2,669 runs at an average of 25.91 with one hundred and 13 fifties.

Three-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars, with 64.8 points, are atop the points standings after four games, way ahead of second place Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 44.6.

They play their next three games at home: against Barbados Pride from November 30 to December 3; against Windward Islands Volcanoes from December 7-10; and against Leeward Islands Hurricanes from December 14-17.

SQUAD: Leon Johnson (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul, Akshaya Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie and Keon Joseph.