Knowing and playing our roles will deliver success – Hetmyer

By Jemima Holmes

With three days to go before Hero CPL 2021 begins, the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) dropped a number of bombshells on Monday, inclusive of their captaincy announcement, coaching, team composition and general expectations.
Arguably one of the most successful teams in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the GAW are pretty pumped up ahead of the ninth edition of the tournament.
On Monday morning, two announcements came out of the GAW Camp; the first revealed that Nicholas Pooran was the new Captain of the Guyanese franchise, and the second that Rayon Griffith was named as the Lead Coach, while Clinton Jeremiah will retain his place as the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Captain, Coach & Composition
Expounding on those updates during a press briefing, Team Manager Omar Khan shared his thoughts on Pooran’s appointment and why the team was cut down to 15 players.
“We have been very pleased to see the progress that Nicholas has made throughout the years he has been with us, here in Guyana. Of course, we all know he was the Captain of the West Indies T20 squad in the recent series against Australia and he has also been West Indies T20 Vice Captain over the last year or so. So, I think it’s a good progression in his career path and we want to give him full support,” he said on Pooran’s appointment.
On the other hand, Waqar Salamkheil will be missing from the franchise. However, Khan isn’t too worried about the team’s chances in his absence.
“Unfortunately, Waqar Salamkheil, the young Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner, was unable to make the trip, because first of all visa issues and then obviously the situation in Afghanistan. So, he’s out of the tournament,” Khan disclosed.
“We are down to 15 players and we have decided as a franchise that we will just remain with those 15 players, looking at the current situation with the pandemic and the challenges with getting players across to travel and all those things.”
The GAW Team Manager assured, “We think we have a good squad and we could manage throughout the tournament with those 15 players.”
Another person who isn’t fazed about the squad missing two potential players is marquee batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who commented on the team’s ability to field replacements, owing to their variety.
“If we do have to make changes, it would be player for player, really. Although we don’t have the biggest of squads, yes, we have players that could fit into specific roles. In terms, if there’s one batsman, there’s a batsman on the bench and I think that would really help us to have our minds wrapped around the fact that we’re all here for one goal and one purpose and if you’re not playing, make sure you’re ready to play at any time,” Hetmyer shared on the topic.

Preparation and rivals for days
As far as the Warriors’ preparations go, the team have been training daily since coming out of quarantine in St Kitts and Nevis, with two practice matches on the cards. The first was conducted on Saturday last and the second is expected to be played today.
“We just got to make use of the practice sessions, you know; the weather here in St Kitts has been good to us so far. Thank God for that, we’ve had good weather – sunshine and good breezy conditions, so we’re hoping that it maintains and we just utilise the sessions; we have to put in as much work as we can with the team,” the Team Manager stated.
While on this topic, Khan got around to the question about GAW and Trinbago Knight Riders’ long-lasting rivalry. Highlighting that this rivalry transcends the CPL, Khan posited that the Guyana-Trinidad game was a great way to start the 2021 tournament.
“We look forward to that opening game, it’s going to be exciting, it’s a good game to start the tournament. I think CPL has always identified the two teams – TKR and Guyana Amazon Warriors – as the two more exciting teams, not that the other teams are not exciting, but in terms of crowd support and the fan base we have.”
He added, “It’s always good to start up with that sort of high-profile fixture to start the tournament. So, it’s a good start; we look forward to it. There’s a lot of chat going around and with Pooran being Captain, you know, there’s going to be added excitement.”

Hear Hetty out
In hearing more from Guyanese sensation Shimron Hetmyer, during the media engagement, the batsman revealed what he believed was the key to the Amazon Warriors’ success this year.
“I think it’s everyone knowing their roles, really. Because it was a big thing that we had as players in the West Indies team, with players knowing their specific roles and then not just knowing, going out and showcasing it. We had different players putting their hands up on different occasions,” the Berbician explained.
He added, “So, it’s really for us as a team, not just batsmen or bowlers, the team on a whole, to put our hand up in a specific area or specific part of the game, supporting whatever it is. It’s really important for us to stick together as one and go for the same goal.”
In a message to Guyanese fans who may be impatient to see their franchise lift the CPL trophy, all Hetmyer is asking is for them to continue to support the team, as he explained that the Warriors are coming into their own.
“My message is basically the same one that I give every year. Just support your team, rep your flag, rep your team. It’s not easy going to so many finals. We are a pretty successful squad and a pretty successful team, it’s just that we haven’t crossed the line in terms of winning the finals,” Hetmyer candidly shared.
“We are a growing team as well; so it’s a lot of young guys in the team. If you would check in T20 cricket all around the world, it says the team that sticks together for the longest, in terms of their core players being together the longest, they would have lost year after year, they do eventually get better.
“So, it’s just for us to get to that stage and cross the line,” he concluded.
If emojis could be used in newspaper articles, it would be at this point that a googly-eyed emoji could be inserted in admiration, as Hetmyer talked about Pooran’s ascension to the captaincy role.
The 25-year-old said about his fellow batsman, “As a teammate, he’s very good to be around actually, lends a lot of support and as a captain, he does the same as well. It’s always nice to have a captain that you could speak to, pass information and give some ideas.”
He said with a laugh, “Being with him for a few years now in the same team, he’s a really calm guy to go around and just give information to and then he relays information quite well, as we all know and we could see him. He’s very vocal behind the stumps.
“He was a captain in PSL, in West Indies and now here too, so as Omar said, it will only help him to be a better cricketer and show some leadership qualities.”
The Warriors will begin their CPL hunt this Thursday, in the first match of the 2021 season against Trinbago Knight Riders from 10:00h (10am) local time. Their second game will be played on Saturday, August 28 against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the same time.