IPL experience comes with expectations, says Botha

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach, Johan Botha, says it is a plus to have local players with Indian Premier League (IPL) experience.

The Warriors are in a unique position of having for the first time three Guyanese with the benefit of playing in the biggest global T20 league.

Batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and all-rounder Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford, who turned out for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019, are expected to play key roles for the Warriors this season.

But Botha is wary of the weight of expectation that comes with such portfolio.

“We’ll have to manage that; they’ll have to manage that. But it’s nice to have extra experience in your line-up,” Botha said on the eve of the Warriors first match against St. Lucia Zouks tomorrow at Providence.

“Add the four internationals to the three other guys who have played IPL cricket, and it’s really good. You know different times in this tournament we will have to draw on that; not all of them is going to have the perfect game or the perfect series so hopefully along the way each of them can chip in and win us some games.”

Hetmyer was Warriors leading runscorer last season, racking up 440 runs, including a maiden T20 hundred. Rutherford’s standout knock was a match-winning 45 not out off 13 balls against eventual champions Trinbago Knight Riders, while Paul was effective in the ‘death’ overs, claiming six wickets from six games.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors squad reads: Shadab Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Shoaib Malik, Shimron Hetmyer, Ben Lauglin, Chris Green, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Keagan Simmons, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Veerasammy, Permaul, Anthony Bramble and Clinton Pestano.