A smiling Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Shoaib Malik said it’s time to get the party started as the home team open their 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots; on Thursday August 9 at Providence.
After months of build up and excitement, franchises from around the Caribbean will be preparing to lock horns in the 6th edition of the T20 extravaganza.
During Wednesday’s pre-match press-conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel; Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach Johan Botha and skipper Malik, along with Patriots coach Donovan Miller and all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite (who was filling in for Patriots Captain Chris Gayle) spoke on the moods in the respective camps ahead on match night.
Botha, speaking on the team’s training session which commenced last week said that he was happy with the Guyana’s training session. Botha, a former South African skipper, said that it was ample time to put together all they have been working on and execute well so they can get off to a great start at home.
The veteran Pakistani batsman was adamant that the Warriors could click in a major way as a unit given their cohesiveness and familiarity with the conditions and each other.
Malik, who hasn’t played at the venue in nearly five years, said that he was still backing a positive result from his side that were keen on winning all three of their home games before going on the road.
Brathwaite, the Windies T20 skipper however said that they were not banking on their big gun in “T20 Boss” Chris Gayle as they seek to fully utilize the vast number of talents in the side.
The all-rounder, who has been around since the first CPL, has never played a game at Providence and as such deemed the opener as “uncharted” turf for him but is confident of a good showing.
The Providence National Stadium will come alive when the Warriors get their title hunt on the road while their opponents led by Gayle, will want to show their class away from home when the first ball is expected to be delivered by 18:00h.
The match will also be broadcasted one hour later (19:00H).
