SUPER50: Akshaya replaces ‘Tage’ in Harpy Eagles’ squad

Akshaya Persaud has been selected for the Guyana Harpy Eagles as a replacement for Test selectee, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, for the remainder of the Regional Super50, which is hosted by Antigua and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Tuesday outlined in a release to the media, “Persaud made his First-Class debut for Guyana against Jamaica in January 2018 and his List-A debut for the Combined Colleges and Campuses against the Leeward Islands in St. Kitts in November 2019.

Persaud has so far played five First-Class matches and eight List-A matches with the highest score of 55, at an average of 27.83 and a strike rate of 55.29.”

For Chanderpaul, his early departure comes as West Indies enhance their preparation for the two Tests in Australia.

They will start with a Three-Day practice match on November 17 followed by a day/night Four-Day match against the Prime Minister’s XI.

The first Test is in Perth on November 30 and the second at the Adelaide Oval on December 4.

Meanwhile, the Harpy Eagles have two more preliminary matches remaining, against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (November 9) and Combined Colleges and Campuses (November 12) as they look for a top-two finish to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Harpy Eagles currently sit top of Group B with 12 points ahead of Red Force (10 points), Windward Volcanoes (eight points), and CCC (two points).

Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain), Akshaya Persaud, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Kemol Savory, Sherfane Rutherford, Tevin Imlach, Quentin Sampson, Anthony Bramble, Nial Smith, Kevin Sinclair and Clinton Pestano.

Management staff: Albert Clements (Manager), Ryan Hercules (Head Coach), Garvin Nedd (Assistant Coach), Angelica Holder (Physiotherapist) and Kheshava Ramphal (Cricket Analyst).