CPL 2023: Playing positive and going hard: Tahir’s mantra for GAW success this season

– Warriors to play Tallawahs tomorrow

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) are off to a solid start in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), with a 65-run win against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Warriors will be in action again tomorrow, Sunday, August 27 against defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time, at Warner Park, St Kitts.
According to Warriors’ newly-appointed Captain, Imran Tahir, playing positive cricket and going hard with the bat will be the mantra for success this season for the Guyanese franchise.

“Look, I said it from the start, that I play very positive cricket. We have the team, everyone is able to do that, we have four all-rounders, they can come in any time once we have a good start. If we have a good start, we want to go as hard as we can, that’s the plan going forward,” Tahir said after the Warriors win over Patriots.
The 44-year-old Tahir added: “There will be a day where we will lose wickets, but we got Hetmyer and Hope. They know their roles, and the way they batted good (against Patriots) and that was really good to see.”

Tahir was really proud of his first win as full-time captain of the Warriors, and he was delighted with Gudakesh Motie’s Player of the Match effort of 4-29.
“Feel really proud, first game as Captain, and I think the boys did fantastic job. Our batters and whatever the plan we had and how we have been practising, they executed really well today, so I am really happy for my boys.

“Our (Motie and myself) overs are very crucial in the middle. We have four all-rounders, and we can always bring them in whenever we can, so we have that luxury. He (Motie) bowled really well, and that is why we pick him, he has been with us for a few years, so yea I hope he carry on, he bowled really well in these conditions,” Tahir said.
Meanwhile, Motie was happy to bowl alongside the veteran Tahir.

“Hitting the right areas. It was a good pitch, and once you hit the right areas, you will get success. I enjoy bowling alongside him. He has a lot of experience, and I enjoy it,” Motie said after his career-best figures in CPL.
He also thanked the Guyanese fans for their continued support. “Shout out to the fans them, thank you for the support.”
The Warriors’ next opponent will be the Jamaica Tallawahs, who looked the most complete team thus far, with two wins. Tallawahs will be led by former Warriors opener Brandon King, and Guyanese legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be in the dressing room as Coach. King has been in sublime form, with back-to-back fifties this season.
Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Saim Ayub; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Azam Khan(w); Shai Hope; Shimron Hetmyer; Dwaine Pretorius; Keemo Paul; Romario Shepherd; Odean Smith; Imran Tahir(c); Gudakesh Motie; Matthew Nandu; Hazratullah Zazai; Kelvon Anderson; Kevin Sinclair; Junior Sinclair and Ronsford Beaton.