The Guyana Harpy Eagles will open the Cricket West Indies 4-Day Championship against the Barbados Pride on February 1 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) announced a 13-man Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the first two rounds of the West Indies Four-Day Championship 2023 regional championships.
Former West Indies U19 batsman Matthew Nandu is one of the four newcomers selected by the Guyana Harpy Eagles and he is expected to make his First-class cricket debut against the Barbados Pride on February 01.
Nandu has said he is looking forward to this opportunity while he is also hoping to learn from his senior members.
“I am looking forward to the experience. I just want to make my First-Class debut. I am looking forward to opening with him (Chandrapaul Hemraj), a senior man in the side. I am just looking to learn as much as possible. If we both play our own game, we will be successful,” Nandu explained.
The 19-year-old Nandu is set to follow in the footsteps of his father Arjune Nandu in playing First-Class cricket for Guyana.
The left-handed batsman scored two half-centuries in the 1st and 2nd practice match at Providence.
“The pitch in Antigua (we played Under-19 trials for West Indies), (for) the first 10 overs, the wicket is moist, the first 10-15 overs is difficult to bat on there, but the wicket should be able to dry out,” Nandu said.
Also, Nandu said he is not looking too far ahead as it relates to West Indies’ senior selection.
“For me, I want to take it game by game, but I just want to keep enjoying the experience. I would love to play for West Indies, but I want to keep enjoying the experience and the opportunity,” Nandu added.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Harpy Eagles Lead Selector Ravindranauth Seeram has said Nandu’s technique is solid.
“Nandu stood out in the trials, in addition to Savory. Nandu scored heavy after Savory. With his technique and so forth, we think he will do well in the games coming up,” Seeram disclosed.
And Manager/Selector Albert Smith has had this to say:
“Potentially, I think Nandu is one of the most promising batsmen. He is well-equipped, and once he can continue, he will be one for the future in West Indies Cricket. He is a very good player.”
Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Shamar Joseph.