Consistency, canny medium pace, ability to produce lusty blows with the bat, and assured self-confidence to lead a team are just some of the attributes that Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder Rayad Emrit possesses.
Now one of the eleven players retained by the Warriors at last Friday’s players draft in Barbados – ahead of the fifth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which runs from August 1 to September 9 – Emrit disclosed in an interview with Guyana Times Sport that “it is always good to be retained and to feel appreciated, I’m happy to be back at Warriors for 2017.”
This Trinidadian, who had captained the Warriors for the latter part of the gala tournament last year, he is most enthused about the squad selected.
His bowling was most impressive last year, when he picked up 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.7 runs
In the four–year history of the CPL, Warriors have been able to participate in three finals, but on all occasions, have come up short after registering stellar performances during the round-robin matches. However, Emrit believes the squad’s stock of experience can help secure the coveted title, but the foremost goal must be to play consistently in order to reach the knock-out rounds.
“I think the squad that is selected is a good squad again; and hopefully we can firstly qualify for the knock-out stages, and then see about going to the finals”, the 36-year-old has said. He added, “The most important thing is getting a good squad together; which I think we have. There are lots of experienced players (in the squad).”
The cricketer, who had a three-year stint with the Barbados Tridents that won the tournament in 2014, plans to use his globe-trotting T20 experience to have an even more impacting outing with the Warriors. He explained: “Hopefully, I can bring (to the tournament) the experience and leadership I had last year and years that I have played in CPL; and hopefully, it helps”.
The right-arm bowler, who has taken 50 wickets at an economy rate of 7.1 runs in his 41 matches to date, with 16 being taken in playing for the Warriors, still aspires to get more wickets and contribute more effectively with the bat. “My goals for this is to do well, get runs, get wickets, and hopefully we can win the title,” he disclosed.
Emrit would have played City Kaitak in Sunday’s final of the Hong Kong Twenty20 match. That side lost the game to the Kowloon Cantoons. And he should turn out for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the remaining matches of the regional 4-day competition as he prepares for the “Biggest Party in Sport”.
