Guyana Amazon Warriors’ ‘Batting Director,’ Shimron Hetmyer, believes that once players understand and execute their roles, the side could lift their maiden title in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Warriors have been to five finals and lost on each occasion but according to Hetmyer, this year the team could go all the way.
“I think it’s everyone knowing their roles really,” when asked about what needs to be done differently this year.
During a press conference yesterday the 24-year-old left-hander recalled that this factor is what had worked for the West Indies T20 team in recent times.
“It was a big thing that we had as players in the West Indies team, players really knowing their specific roles and then not just knowing but going out and showcasing it and we had different players putting their hands up on different occasions,” he declared.
However, it was not just in a single department but rather a collective effort.
“So it’s really for us as a team, not just batsmen or bowlers, the team on the whole to put their hands up in a specific area or part of the game even if it is in the field maybe a diving stop, supporting whatever it is, it’s really for us to stick together as one,” he said.
The team, however, will not have much time to get themselves in the groove as the tournament is now condensed from August 26 to September 16 and with an already reduced squad of 15, Warriors will want to get their act together from the get-go.
Hetmyer, who was the team’s leading run getter last season said, “Because of how the tournament is and how it is pretty short this year than the past years it is just for us to, if we do have to make changes it would just be player for player. Although we don’t have the biggest of squads yes, we have players who can fit into specific roles in terms of if there is one batsman out there is going to be a batsman on the bench, bowlers as well and I think that would really help us for everyone to have their minds wrapped around the fact that we are all her for one goal and one purpose.”
The core of the squad from previous seasons remain the same with youngsters, Hetmyer and newly appointed captain, Nicholas Pooran in charge of the batting while their leading wicket takers of last season, Imran Tahir and Naveen Ul-Haq have also returned.
Notably, the squad will be boosted by former Pakistan captains, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez. Both players bring a wealth of experience and both featured in the side before with Malik even leading the team for a few seasons. They both bring a boost to the batting and offer a useful spin bowling option.
