CPL: Amazon Warriors leaning towards international captain- source

By Avenash Ramzan

One of the overseas (non-Caribbean) players could lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the sixth Hero Caribbean Premier League, starting August 8.

A usually reliable source told News Room that several names are being considered, including last year’s captain Rayad Emrit. However, the franchise is reportedly leaning towards having one of the international players take charge of the squad.

While the source could not confirm who is the lead candidate for the job, he did mention that an announcement would be made soon.

The overseas (non-Caribbean) players in the squad are Pakistani duo- all-rounder Shoaib Malik and seamer Sohail Tanveer; South African pair- batsman Cameron Delport and leg-spinner Imran Tahir; New Zealand wicketkeeper/batsman Luke Ronchi and 17-year-old USA left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar.

Of the lot, only Malik has captaincy experience, having led Pakistan’s senior side and recently Multan Sultans, the Pakistan Super League T20 team.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors are yet to win a CPL title, despite reaching the final on three occasions. Over the years, the franchise has been led by Ramnaresh Sarwan, Denesh Ramdin, Martin Guptill and Emrit.

Only last week the franchise announced South African Johan Botha as the Head Coach. It is the first time the franchise would be coached by a personnel born outside the region.

Former Guyana and West Indies cricketers, Roger Harper and Carl Hooper, were the men in charge during the previous five editions of the tournament.

The Warriors will assemble in Guyana on August 2 for a preparatory camp ahead of the August 8 to September 16 tournament.