Cricket travels to the United States of America and it's not hard to see why Chris Gayle wants to see more of it in the country. For more than a million people of Caribbean origin, more than a 200,000 people of Indian or Pakistani roots in Florida, this comes as a much-needed opportunity to see some live action. It indeed is a massive market for authorities and broadcasters alike to look into.
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) authorities, who are not only looking to promote cricket in the US but also looking to increase the viewership, have a reason to be optimistic about the league being played in the southernmost state of the US. After a fairly successful experiment by the Cricket All Stars, USA is surely one of the markets cricket is targeting. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India officials already in Florida to discuss a potential India vs West Indies Twenty20 International series in the USA with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the CPL games can actually act as a catalyst for more cricket if the response is good.
The fans, however, will have to wait to see Gayle in action. First up will be Brabados Tridents taking on Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground. The last time a T20I game was played at the venue, West Indies cantered to a win in a high-scoring clash against New Zealand in 2012. It won't be surprising if the batsmen enjoy another outing at this venue. The pitch, though, has been relaid and dashed with some grass to bind it but that could well be to hold the surface together. After all, a flat deck, an outfield laid to put a billiards table to shame, plenty of boundaries and a lot of entertainment is what the fans are expecting to see.
From the tournament perspective, this is a do or die game for the Tridents. They are holding onto the fifth spot with eight points after St Lucia Zouks surged ahead with three win in their last four outings. The Warriors are comfortably placed second with 10 points from eight games.
The Tridents think-tank will be pleased to see the likes of Shoaib Malik and Kieron Pollard finding form heading to the business end of the tournament. However, they are coming off a loss against St. Lucia Zouks and need to regain the momentum to have a shot at the play-offs.
Warriors, on the other hand, have lost two consecutive games and can't take things lightly albeit their position in the points table. Both Zouks and Trinbago Knight Riders and two points behind them and it isn't a hidden fact why a top-two finish is crucial in such a tournament. They need to win at least one - both their games being against Tridents - to ensure a spot in the play-offs.
Even with the buzz, the expectations, the need to put on a show, a lot is at stake for both teams as they kick off the USA leg of the tournament.
What: Barbados Tridents vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, Match 25, Caribbean Premier League.
When: July 28, 2016, 7:00 PM Local time (4:30 am +1 day IST).
Where: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Florida.
Team news:
Barbados Tridents: AB de Villiers has left the squad after being called back by Cricket South Africa (CSA). Ahmed Shehzad has replaced him in the last two games but with scores of just 15 and 13, the Pakistan batsman needs to step up to plug the huge gap left by the South African.
Guyana Amazon Warriors: They've lost Martin Guptill, their regular captain, to national duty. Nic Maddinson has replaced him in the squad while Rayad Emrit has been named the captain of the side for the remainder of the tournament.
What they said:
"We know it's a must win game. We wanted to address a few problems and leave them in the Caribbean. We want to bring in fresh ideas and a fresh environment. It's about leaving the problems behind and coming here with a positive mindset." - Pollard.
"We've been playing together for a while so it's a bit easier (to come and lead the side). I know most of the guys in the team so my job is a lot more easier than when Martin came in. We know one win will give us a spot in the knockouts but we will be going for two victories." - Emrit.
Did you know?
Barbados have won their last three matches against Guyana after the latter won the first two.
The average run rate in the four T20Is played in Lauderhill is 6.87.
Dwayne Smith needs two more wickets to complete the double of 6000 runs and 100 wickets in 20-over cricket.
Teams (from):
Barbados Tridents: Steven Taylor, Shoaib Malik, Wayne Parnell, Kieron Pollard (c), David Wiese, Ashley Nurse, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ravi Rampaul, Navin Stewart, Robin Peterson, Raymon Reifer, Shamar Springer, Kyle Hope, Kyle Corbin.
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Sohail Tanvir, Nic Maddinson, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn (vice captain), Rayad Emrit (captain), Adam Zampa, Devendra Bishoo, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer.
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