… Rutherford, Paul among players released

FIVE-TIME runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) have released as many as six players while retaining eleven from the previous edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). T&Ts Nicholas Pooran, who made the only century of last year’s tournament, will be back with the Warriors this year along with Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King. The Warriors will also be welcoming back South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir and Afghan fast bowler Naveen ul Haq.
The squad also features up-and-coming Guyanese players Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd, both of whom impressed in 2020 at their first Hero CPL.
The Amazon Warriors have six spots left to fill in their squad and these will be announced in the coming weeks.
Among those released are the Guyanese duo of Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul, skipper Chris Green and New Zealand International Ross Taylor.
While many were probably expecting the axing of Rutherford and Taylor from the team as both players failed to live up to their reputation and succumbed to a torrid outing last year, the omission of Green came as a shocker as Green experienced a brilliant ride in the previous edition both as a captain and bowler.

Green picked up nine wickets from 11 matches at a stunning economy rate of 5.68. Further, under the leadership of Green, GAW reached the semi-finals.
Paul was also a surprise exclusion, as he was picked by the franchise in the 2017 edition and has emerged as a mainstay player for the team since then. In CPL 2020, Paul scalped nine wickets in nine games, with his best figures being four for 19.
In the 2020 edition, Amazon Warriors finished at the second position on the points table with six wins from ten matches. They finished with 12 points under their belt. Warriors’ campaign in the 2020 edition came to an end after they lost to St Lucia Zouks by ten wickets in the semi-final at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors management team said: ‘’The Management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise are very pleased to retain the core group of

players which comprised our squad over the last two years. The Franchise is very appreciative of the retained players for their loyalty and commitment to the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
“It is the hope of the Franchise that with the majority of players being together over the last two tournaments, the team unity, camaraderie and support for one another in working towards a common goal and purpose will bring the desired result of winning the tournament this year.”
Players retained: Imran Tahir, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Naveen Ul Haq, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kevin Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Odean Smith, Anthony Bramble.
Players released: Chris Green, Ross Taylor, Keemo Paul, Kissoondath Magram, Sherfane Rutherford and Jasdeep Singh.