Strong national youth teams departed on Sunday to contest the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional youth tournaments.

The Under-15s are in Grenada while the Under-19s are in St. Vincent. Both teams are out to complete a three peat after winning the two previous tournaments.

A strong U-19 team comprising West Indies U-19 all-rounder Keemo Paul, captain Travis Persaud and power hitting all-rounders Sherfane Rutherford and Renaldo Ali Mohamed, will defend Guyana’s title and look to continue its dominance for a third straight year.

The team’s outstanding performance dates back to 2014 when Guyana won its first double- limited overs and three day titles at home-under the leadership of Brian Sattaur and last year in Jamaica under returning skipper Persaud.

As a result of its supremacy three of its players were selected for the Youth World Cup and they assisted the West Indies U-19 team in winning the tournament.

Prior to departure, the national U-19 team was encamped at the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence Hostel and indoor facility at La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast of Demerara. The preparatory camp lasted for two weeks. The Regional U-19 tournament will take place between July 27 and August 21.

Unlike last year, the event will feature limited overs and three day cricket. The tournament will comprise three rounds of three-day matches during the first 11 days, and the Youth Super50 which fields seven teams – the six territorial sides from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands – along with a composite side from ICC Americas.

Each of the teams will play the other once in a round-robin competition, featuring seven rounds of 50 overs-a-side matches, with the top two teams qualifying for the Final to determine the tournament winner on August 21 at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

The Coach of the team is Adrian Amsterdam while the Manager is David Black.

Meanwhile, the U-15 squad which will be coached and skippered by Julian Moore and Sachin Singh respectively also have a great chance of bringing home the title. Singh is a prolific left handed batsman and was recently a member of the Guyana U-17 team which is currently in Trinidad. Moore on the other hand has been in charge since 2014 when Guyana won its third title.

Like the U-19s, the U-15s have also ascended at its level, winning the tournament for the last two years in Jamaica 2014 and Guyana 2015. The team is not as strong as the previous two years but they are expected to do well.

The U-15 tournament – in its 21st year – will be contested under a round-robin format, featuring five rounds of matches with the team accumulating the most points being declared champions.

The U-15 tournament will run from July 27 to August 3.

Guyana U-15 Squad: Sachin Singh (captain), Seon Glasgow, Yeudistir Persaud, Mohamed Shoaib Shaw, Jarron France, Lance Roberts, Gevon Schultz, Amos Sarwan, Dwaine Dick, Nickeen Noble, Sheldon Charles, Leon Swamy, Nigel Deodat and Daniel Paul.

Guyana U-19 Squad: Travis Persaud (captain), Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Renaldo Ali Mohamed, Akinie Adams, Ronaldo Renee, Malcolm Hubbard, Keshram Shabodan, Joel Seitaram, Looknauth Chinkoo, Bhaskar Yadram, Joshua Persaud, Sylus Tyndall and Raymond Perez.

(Taken from Guyana Times)