Windies T20 success will drive CPL: Guptill

Gerogetown (Guyana), April 12 (IANS) Newly-appointed Guyana Amazon Warriors captain, New Zealander Martin Guptill, has said he expects the excitement from the West Indies’ World T20 success to spill over to the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season.

The annual regional T20 campaign is set to bowl off from June 29 to August 7 and the 29-year-old said he anticipated the "feel good factor" would have a positive impact, reports CMC.

“I would firstly like to congratulate the West Indies team and management on regaining the World T20 in such dramatic fashion last weekend. Their performances were outstanding throughout the competition and it was a real team effort,” said Guptill on Monday who was part of the New Zealand squad that faltered at the semi-finals stage.

“Personally speaking, New Zealand were disappointed to lose in the semi-finals to England, but we can take a lot of positives and look to build for the next few years as we have a good group of promising New Zealand cricketers coming through.

“With my team mates Brendon McCullum and Colin Munro signed up, it will be a great tournament for the fans as some of the biggest names in world cricket arrive in the Caribbean.”

He added: “West Indies cricket is on a real high. And with the women’s and Under-19 teams also enjoying international success, I have no doubt that the feel-good factor will continue into the best ever CPL this summer and beyond.”

The West Indies captured the men’s titles when they beat England in the final while the women’s side trounced three-time defending champions Australia Women in the corresponding final.

Their success came against the backdrop of the West Indies Under-19s side winning the Youth World Cup earlier this year in Bangladesh.

Guptill, who spent two seasons with Amazon Warriors before switching to St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots last year, said it felt great to be heading back to Georgetown.

“I would like to thank the owners and coach Roger Harper for inviting me back and we are all focused on giving our wonderful supporters many happy memories later this summer,” he noted.

“Providence Stadium is a ground that I have fond memories of playing in and I know that we can count on some big numbers for our games there again this summer.”