Chanderpaul opts out due to sinus problem

Shivnarine Chanderpaul will miss Guyana's opening encounter against Bermuda in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 after informing national selectors of his unavailability due to a sinus problem.

"His [Chanderpaul's] last-minute withdrawal has affected us a bit in terms of team plans and strategy but the guys are all experienced players and we have a good leader [in Ramnaresh Sarwan] so I don't think it will be too much of a problem," Albert Smith, Guyana's coach, told Caribbean Media Corporation.

Meanwhile, Royston Crandon, the 24-year-old right-hand batsman, has been named as Chanderpaul's replacement. Crandon has played five first-class matches and ten List A matches, and scored a century on his List A debut against Windward Islands in Grenada last year.

Smith said that Guyana were making enquiries about the policy regarding team changes. "If Crandon plays and does well we are not sure if we can then drop another player who was in the original side if Shiv decides to return to play."

Crandon will join the rest of his team-mates on February 8, when they travel to Coolidge, Antigua, for their opening match slated for February 10.