Jamaica senior team cricketers Xavier Marshall (left) and Shawn Findley are engaged in a discussion, while Danza Hyatt (second right) and Odean Brown (right) stand close, as the players gathered outside the check-in area at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. The team left for Guyana, where they will participate in the West Indies Cricket Board President's Cup one-day tournament, which bowls off next weekend. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer

A strong Jamaican contingent, led by captain Chris Gayle, left the island yesterday for Guyana, where they will participate in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President's Cup one-day tournament, who begins next weekend.

The 14-member squad, which includes 11 players with West Indies senior team experience, will be gunning to reclaim the title after losing their semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago, who went on to win the title.

"Last year was different as we were without seven of our top players who were in New Zealand with the West Indies team," said Junior Bennett, coach of the Jamaica team which regained the regional four-day crown earlier this year.

"This year we have a full team with a lot of experience and, as such, I am looking forward to us doing much better," he added.

"But having said that, it will be all about what we do on the day. We cannot afford to look on paper and say we have a good team. It's not about names, as almost all the other teams have good name-players. It's about execution, that's what counts and what I will be emphasising when we get over there."

The team, which sees former West Indies 'A' team fast bowler Andrew Richardson, hard-hitting batsman Danza Hyatt and leg-spinner Odean Brown as the only players who are yet to taste West Indies senior team selection, will compete in a four-team Guyana Cricket Board Invitational Twenty20 tournament this weekend, before bowing into action in the one-day tournament.

The two-day Twenty20 tournament, which will see the winners taking home US$8,000, runners-up US$4,000, third place US$2,000 and fourth place US$1,000, will include the hosts, Barbados and the United States.

Barbados will face Guyana and Jamaica will tackle the United States, with the winners advancing to the final and the losers to the third-place play-off.

"We are happy to play in this Twenty20 tournament as it should give some valuable warm-up heading into what should be tough one-day competition. We also want to use it to work on some of our weaknesses," Bennett added.

Squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Shawn Findley, Wavell Hinds, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Andrew Richardson, Carlton Baugh Jr, Nikita Miller, Odean Brown, Jerome Taylor and David Bernard Jr.