Published: Aug 05, 2017, 03:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 05, 2017, 03:30 PM (IST)
As Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017 gets underway, 3 time finalists Guyana Amazon Warrior are looking to find themselves in yet another final this year especially with the presence of Afghanistan’s exciting talent Rashid Khan. Amazon Warrior’s captain Martin Guptill has high expectations of Rashid. Guptill expects the teenage leg-spinner to not only take their side to the final but also win the title this year. Rashid had a sensational 2017 as he not only provided consistent success to Afghanistan during the Ireland series but also had splendid season in his debut IPL edition for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He garnered accolades from David Warner, Tom Moody and VVS Laxman. He was also a strong contender in the Purple Cap lists.
Although Amazon Warriors have reached the final thrice, they lost all of them. Guptill expects change of fortunes this time. “Everyone talks about how we’ve been in three finals and lost three finals but at the end of the day that’s cricket. You’re not going to win every game you play. We played some pretty incredible cricket up to that and unfortunately we played our worst game in the final,” Guptill told ESPNcricinfo. Apart from being in the final, Guptill is confident who can change the fortunes of Amazon Warriors this year, “The squad looks a little different to last year but we’ve got some pretty exciting young cricketers coming. Rashid Khan, you know what he did in the IPL this year and what he’s done for Afghanistan. It’s extremely exciting and I can’t wait to watch the likes of him get the ball in hand and see what he can do in a couple of days’ time.”
Rashid has replaced Amazon Warrior’s leading wicket-taker in 2016, Adam Zampa. If Rashid’s inclusion is a boon to Amazon Warrior, Chris Lynn’s shoulder injury is a big blow for the side.
However, Babar Azam has arrived as Lynn’s replacement. But it will be West Indies’ Chadwick Walton who is expected to open along with Guptill.
