With the fifth annual Caribbean Premier League (CPL) set to take centre stage in a few days’ time, the Guyana Amazon Warriors bowling unit seems poised to do their bit in an effort to push the South American franchise over the line. Guyana’s bowling effort will largely rest on the shoulders of two contrasting bowlers in the Asian pair of Sohail Tanvir of Pakistan and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan in an effort to push their side over the line for the very first time.
“Well last year definitely went very well for me and for the teams as well, I was taking wickets up front and I’ll definitely try to repeat it, in fact, there is always improvement that you can make so I’ll try to make more improvements and will try to finish it [tournament] strong,” after grabbing 20 wickets from 12 matches last year,” Tanvir said at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
Stressing the importance of crossing the line, Tanvir added: “Last year we finished second, in fact, three times out of four [the] Guyana Amazon Warriors played [the] finals and lost it so we’ll try to bring the glory this time because we know how important it is,” the left arm quick said in hindsight of the Warriors crushing nine wicket defeat at the hands of the Jamaica Tallawahs, last year. Tanvir, who is expected to lead the attack in further accessing the Warriors performance throughout the Caribbean edition of the T20 game, said that the Guyana usually plays well, noting the history of the CPL which is motivational for the team.
Meanwhile, Khan, who is the new mystery spinner on the block, as seen when he used his magic `wand’ to spin webs around the Caribbean batsmen on Afghanistan’s 2017 tour of the Caribbean, should form a good supporting platform for Tanvir.
The 18-year old, leg spinner during his turn at the microphone yesterday said that he plans on doing nothing different, stressing the importance of doing the basics as he does in his other uniforms over the last three years. Khan in describing his leg spin art and his crafty deception said: “I think it’s a little different from the other leg spinners, I’m too quick in the air and [I have a] quick arm action that makes it difficult for the batsmen and that’s what helps me to get more wickets and trouble the batsmen.”
The young man in wrapping up his interview assured that the Warriors nation can expect “some good cricket” as he sets out to play positively while doing so for the team. Meanwhile, the team took a hit out in the middle where the expected opening pair in skipper Martin Guptill and Chadwick Walton looked in good nick during their knock against the Guyanese duo of Keon Joseph and Veerasammy Permaul. The side is expected to continue their rigorous preparation ahead of their opening match with three practice matches set for the National Stadium, Providence.
