T20 World Cup success will drive CPL - Guptill

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC):

Newly appointed Guyana Amazon Warriors captain, New Zealander Martin Guptill, says he expects the excitement from West Indies' Twenty20 World Cup success to spill over into the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League 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.

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

"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."

international success

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."

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 ICC Youth World Cup earlier this year in Bangladesh.