By Akeem Greene
You can pinch Junior Sinclair at this point, and he probably won’t even flinch. In fact, he might look at you with the biggest smile over what he is viewing as a life-changing opportunity.
He was a draft pick as one of the two Under-23 players by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for this edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, which runs from August 31 to September 30. West Indies Under-19 rising batting star, Matthew Nandu is the other.
The off-spinning all-rounder from Berbice, who represented Guyana throughout the youth levels, has been knocking at the senior door in recent seasons.
With some exceptional performances with the ball, some pundits felt he should have been given an opportunity already with the Guyana Harpy Eagles. But, the stars aligned on Thursday and he now has a platform on the biggest cricket stage in the Caribbean to showcase his talent.
And with franchises mandated to play at least one of their Under-23 players in a minimum of five matches, Sinclair could be in line for an extended run, especially since he is the only out-right off-spinner in the 17-man squad.
Speaking to News Room Sport after his signing, the 21-year-old was bubbling with excitement. He joyfully stated: “It is great actually…I have been working hard over the years, so, it feels good to reap some success. I’m a bit shocked, but thankful at the same time.”
“I have been putting in the hard yards over the years day in, day out at my local club, and also I have been training with the national team.”
Sinclair, who plays for the successful Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, is the youngest of seven siblings, and views this opportunity to play in the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, as potentially life-changing.
Apart from looking to excel for the Warriors, he is eying CPL as the space to engage the overseas-based spinners on their craft, and to pick up advice on he can get better.
For the passionate fans of the Warriors, who are desperate for a title victory to cheer, he urged them to just keep supporting.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Shai Hope, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul, Junior Sinclair, Matthew Nandu.
