The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 showdown at sundown in Guyana today will take on great significance as Red Steel and West Indies One Day International (ODI) captain Dwayne Bravo look to pull one over Guyana Amazon Warriors and West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin.
When the umpires call play at 7 pm at Providence Stadium tonight, it is quite possible that 12 players from T&T will be on show. There are eight representing the Red Steel and another four playing for the Warriors. The rivalry is fierce and what makes it even more so, is the fact that head-to-head, the Warriors lead Red Steel 2-1.
The Warriors defeated Red Steel in their opening match of the tournament last year at Providence before Red Steel pulled one back in preliminary play. They again met in the semi-finals and Red Steel lost at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
Yesterday at the pre-match press conference Red Steel captain Dwayne Bravo said, "It promises to be a good game between two good sides. Last year they beat us two games to one but this is a new year, and we're confident. It's always a challenge playing against Guyana Amazon Warriors as the side has lots of good players, international and local."
Red Steel coach Simon Helmot said his boys are ready for battle and looking to come out on top. "It's a great stadium here, there are fantastic training conditions and this led to us being well prepared to play a powerful unit.
"We have done what we can in terms of getting ready and now it is for the boys to go out there and give their best and this I am sure would bring us victory."
Manager Colin Borde added that the players are not distracted with the current issue of not being able to use the T&T name.
"The players are focused on what is happening between the white lines and not off the field. They have a job to do and they know that the only way they are going to get over this hurdle is by staying focused."
Ramdin says the team which handles pressure better will come out on top in this one.
"Confidence is high in the Amazon Warrior camp and this is expected to work in our favour. Practice has been good, and the players are familiar with the conditions here so we are looking forward to winning the second game."
The Warriors opened this year's campaign with a three-wicket win over the Antigua Hawksbills in Grenada on the weekend.
Coach Roger Harper said, "We were very happy to win the first game despite not playing very well. The guys are looking forward to playing better tomorrow (today) and once this happens, the fans here would have a lot to cheer about."
With the World Cup football out the way the CPL bug is catching on and fans were busy snapping up tickets for the main event today.
Teams:
Red Steel - Dwayne Bravo (capt), Ross Taylor, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Kevon Cooper, Nasir Jamshed, Kevin O'Brien, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Shannon Gabriel, Fidel Edwards, Jason Mohammed, Kenar Lewis and Delorn Johnson.
Guyana Amazon Warriors - Denesh Ramdin (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Jimmy Neesham, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Chris Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Navin Stewart, Martin Guptil and Leon Johnson.
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