… Team spirit high, says Guptill

FOLLOWING a on-week training camp, which included three warm-up games, Guyana’s star-studded professional cricket team, known as the Guyana Amazon Warriors, departed these shores yesterday en route to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for their first match of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Saturday.
The Warriors, three-time finalists in the CPL will look to complete the journey this season with their new-look team led by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill.
The 17-man squad spent the last seven days, fine-tuning their preparations for this year’s tournament, in a preparatory camp held under head coach Roger Harper and his technical support team.
After Tuesday’s final warm-up game, Harper indicated how pleased he was, heading into this year’s tournament.
“Taking everything into consideration I think we are satisfied with where we are at the moment. We expect that we will have a couple of sessions when we get to Florida to fine-tune for the matches in Florida, and come our first game, we expect to be ready,” Harper said.
Harper further indicated that their main aim is to win the tournament, but they will play each game as it comes as they aim to reach the playoffs stage.
Further, Guptill pointed out that team spirit is high, adding that the management will be depending on everyone to play his part during the competition.
The second assignment for the Warriors will be on Sunday against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots before returning to the Caribbean.
Guyana home games are billed for August 17, 19, 20 and 22 at the Guyana National Stadium.
The host team (Guyana Amazon Warriors) take on the Jamaica Tallawahs on August 17 from 20:00hrs; Trinbago Knight Riders on August 19 from 12:00hrs; Barbados Tridents on August 20 from 18:00hrs and St Lucia Stars on August 22 from 18:00hrs.
The full squad reads: Martin Guptill (captain), Babar Azam, Sohail Tanvir, Rayad Emrit, Jason Mohammed, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Steven Taylor, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Keon Joseph and Keemo Paul.
Meanwhile, the Warriors recorded a convincing 72-run victory over the Guyana Select X1 on Tuesday, the last of three warm-up games.
Scores in the match: Guyana Amazon Warriors 160-5 in 20 overs. Guptill led the way for the Warriors with 47 from 25 balls inclusive of two sixes and six fours while receiving support from Jason Mohammed (45) and Babar Azam (41).
In reply the Select X1 were restricted to 88-7. Medium pacer Rayad Emrit claimed 3-12 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul had 2-17.