GAW ready for battle after “productive preparations”

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will get their first taste of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 tonight, when they battle the hosts, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
In anticipation of their opening game, Head Coach Lance Klusener sat down for a virtual media engagement on Thursday where he shared updates on the team’s preparations, describing it as productive.

Klusener related to Guyanese media operatives, “I think, like most teams, we’ve had a really productive bit of a pre-season camp back in Guyana. So, the boys got here yesterday [Wednesday] and most of our West Indies contingent arrived yesterday and one or two will dribble in today. So, we should be all in by this evening. So, yeah, it’s been really productive, it’s just a matter of inducting the newcomers and the people that have joined us for the first time so, that’ll take a little bit of time but hopefully we’ll have all that completed by practice today and be good to go tomorrow [today].”
The Head Coach was quizzed about what the team’s lineup will look like, especially it’s middle order, but did not have too many concerns singling out the likes of Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Iftikhar Ahmed in a group of versatile players.
He divulged, “We’ve been blessed to have Shai, that’s come in and played really well for us in that number 3 position so, you know, that’s been something that’s worked really well for us and we’ll probably try and do that again. You can throw Hetty in there as well. We’re lucky, we’ve got Iftikhar here, Moeen is here also – we’ve got a whole bunch of guys who can fill that whole middle order, probably just shift them around, left and right combinations.”
“Without giving too much away, there’s quite a few versatile players that we’ll try and settle in, and try and find a rhythm as soon as we can. But just to answer your question upfront, I thought Shai was outstanding for us last couple of seasons and coming off some good form in the recent games against Pakistan so, that’s good for us,” the former South Africa international–turned Coach added.
Coming off of two back-to-back West Indies tours, Klusener admitted that the workload is something that the team’s management will be paying attention to.
He explained, “That is, if not the most important part for us, in terms of managing our players, is that ideally if we can select from a full squad for as many games as possible, that will be something that we’ll be aiming for. The likes of Shep, Shai and Shamar and those guys that have played a lot, that’s more about us making sure that they’re fresh for the games. We’re not too stressed on how much gets done in terms of preparation, as long as they’re mentally and physically ready to go on game day, that’s the most important.”
Singing the praises of the Breakout League, Klusener expressed eagerness at seeing those players, which include Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson and Riyad Latif, compete for their spot.
“First of all, I think it’s a great initiative. I do a lot of franchise cricket and this is the only league that places a big emphasis on not only having those people in your squad, but making sure they get game time as well.”
The GAW Coach went on to add, “For me, it’s a great thing; I thought we had shopped pretty wisely in the off-season and competition’s going to be tough for that position but the good thing is that we’ll be having an opportunity of some of those breakout players, some will get game time and some probably won’t get game time but there’s lots of opportunities off the field that we can grow those youngsters as well.”
“Competition will be stiff to find that one spot.”
The 2025 GAW squad reads: Captain Imran Tahir, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Ben McDermott, Moeen Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed/Hasan Khan, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamarh Brooks, Kemol Savory, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson and Riyad Latif.
The clash between the Amazon Warriors and Patriots will bowl off at 19:00hrs this evening.