Led by the versatile athlete Jonathan Van Lange, a confident Guyana Under-17 team departed for Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday to compete in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Regional Under-17 competition from August 12 to September 1.

Van Lange, also a national table tennis standout, will have Matthew Pottaya as his deputy, with support from Vickash Wilkinson, the Under-17 Inter-County MVP, opener Rampersaud Ramnauth, Sanjay Algoo, Nicholas Shiopersaud and Kevin Kisten, all of whom were top performers during the Inter-county tournament played in July.

SQUAD: Jonathan Van Lange (Captain), Rampersaud Ramnauth, Kevin Kisten, Vickash Wilkinson, Romeo Deonarain, Ari Afrizal Kadir, Nityanand Mathura, Sanjay Algoo, Matthew Pottaya (Vice-captain), Golcharran Chulai, Nicholas Shiopersad, Salim Khan, Bruce Vincent and Darwin Joseph.

“The squad left Guyana following a 12-day intense training camp under the guidance of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Level Two coach Quasen Nedd and Neil Rudder, who was a member of the disciplined force,” the Guyana Cricket Board said in a press release.

“Given the favourable weather conditions during their encampment, which included two-day matches and a 50-over practice match, this unit leaves Guyana confident of becoming the first Guyana team to win the Regional Under-17 tournament.”

This year’s Regional Under-17 tournament will have a two-day format as well as a 50-over format with the Super50 being played first.

Guyana will face Barbados in their first game on Saturday at Gilbert Park.