Guyana Amazon Warriors announce Shimron Hetmyer as their new skipper

Hetmyer will lead the side in the upcoming CPL season which will run from August 31 to September 30.

West Indian power-hitting middle order batter Shimron Hetmyer has been appointed as the skipper of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the upcoming season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He takes over the reins from West Indian white-ball skipper Nicholas Pooran, who departed for the Trinbago Knight Riders following the CPL draft in July.

Hetmyer has been part of the Amazon Warriors setup since 2016 and was on the periphery before becoming a regular starter for the Guyana-based franchise in 2018. He has featured for the side in 47 matches, racking up 1149 runs at a healthy strike rate of 131.76. His exploits with the bat include a majestic ton and eight half centuries.

Although the explosive batter has seen a dip in the form of late, the Chairman of the Amazon Warriors franchise, Bobby Ramroop, was delighted to appoint him the captain of the side as he becomes the first Guyanese to lead the side since the inaugural 2013 season, where Ramnaresh Sarwan led the side to the final of the competition.

“We are pleased to appoint our first Guyanese captain since the 2013 season. Hetmyer has been the main part of our setup over the years, and we believe the time is right to have him lead the team,” Bobby Ramroop said in an official statement.

‘I can’t wait for the CPL to begin’ –  Shimron Hetmyer on his appointment

Meanwhile, Hetmyer was due to be part of the Windies team for the ongoing series against the Blackcaps but withdrew his name from the squad, sighting personal reasons. But the Guyanese expressed his delight at being appointed the captain of the team and stated that he cannot wait for the new CPL season to commence, stating, “I’m excited to lead this group of men. I can’t wait for the CPL to begin.”

Notably, his appointment comes just a day after he was announced as the newest signing of the UAE-based T20 League side Gulf Giants. Shimron Hetmyer joined the likes of Chris Jordan, David Wiese, Ollie Pope, and Qais Ahmed, among others in a star-studded line-up.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer (c), Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope, Paul Stirling, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu, Junior Sinclair.