SIX Guyanese players, including four established West Indies internationals, have been drafted for the ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10, setting up a significant scheduling clash with the region’s domestic 50-over tournament.
The high-profile contingent is headlined by explosive batsman Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounders Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford, and spinner Gudakesh Motie.
The official draft, held on Saturday, October 18, also secured the services of young talents Ashmead Nedd and Quentin Sampson, arguably the most compelling story from the picks.
Sampson, an emerging all-rounder who transitioned from the local softball and tapeball circuits, continues his impressive trajectory in franchise cricket. His T10 selection follows him being named the Emerging Player of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025.
His inclusion and left-arm spinner Nedd pose a challenge for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). The Abu Dhabi T10 runs from November 18 to 30, directly overlapping with the CWI Super50 Cup in Trinidad (November 19–29).
Conflict Creates Selection Headache
The clash could make several key players unavailable for the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad in the Regional Super50.
While the internationals are tied up, Nedd and Sampson would be strong contenders for the Harpy Eagles squad.
However, as they are not centrally contracted, they still must obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the GCB to play in the ICC-recognised T10 league.
The decision places local administrators in a difficult position: weigh the importance of maximising their chances for the Super50 trophy against the career opportunity presented to their emerging non-contracted players in a major international franchise tournament.
The six Guyanese join a large contingent of West Indies stars—including Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, and Sunil Narine—who will participate in the event at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
