The Desert Vipers are out of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) after an eight-wicket loss at the hands of the San Francisco Unicorns in the Qualifier for the Grand Final on Friday night at Providence Stadium. 

This means that it is the side from the United States that goes forward to Saturday’s final against the hosts and defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The Vipers made 122 for seven after being put into bat and the Unicorns replied with 126 for two, winning with 23 balls in hand. 

In the Qualifier, the difference between the sides was the Vipers’ inability to overcome the spin threat of the Unicorns, with the Major League Cricket side bowling 17 overs of spin in total.

There were 56 dot balls in the Vipers innings as the batters struggled to rotate the strike, and although five of the top six reached double figures, no one could go on to a substantial score.

For the Vipers, it was a late flourish from Vriitya which allowed them to reach their eventual total as he made an unbeaten 29 from 20 balls, including five fours, and 50 runs came from the final five overs.

The Unicorns needed just 6.15 runs per over to reach the final, but the Vipers battled hard and when Khary Pierre took two wickets in three balls in the fifth over the American team were 29 for two.

But that was the high-water mark for the Vipers as Tim Robinson, the top run-scorer in this season’s competition, and Oliver Peake combined to stitch together the tournament’s highest partnership so far of 97 runs.

Pierre finished with figures of 2-22 to take him to nine wickets in this edition of  GSL and he leads the overall wickets tally at the moment. 

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers Head Coach Azhar Mahmood: 

On the factors that led to the Desert Vipers’ defeat against the San Francisco Unicorns in the GSL 2026 Qualifier: “I think we were not up to the mark. After we lost a couple of early wickets of Andries Gous and Rilee Rossouw, I felt our intent was not there. And we did not build up partnerships. Running between the wickets was not great either. And they (San Francisco Unicorns) bowled really well. They had, I think, 17 overs of spin. They have experienced finger spinners and they bowled wicket to wicket and put us into trouble.

“In a game like this, to give yourself a chance, you have to get to a total of about 170 to 180. But even if can get to 140 to 145, you can give yourself a really good chance to win this game.

“Plus, in the second innings, there was dew and so the ball was coming nicely (onto the bat). And I think Tim Robinson played really well. And I think he shared one of the highest partnership on GSL history. “

On the positives from the tournament and especially some good performances from the UAE players: “I think there were some positives throughout the tournament, like Rilee (Rossouw) played really well. Unfortunately, he missed out in this game. And I think Vriitya Aravind and Sanjay Pahal, our two UAE boys, did a remarkable job for us, especially Vriitya with the way he batted throughout of the tournament. I think that is a plus sign for us. 

“And Sanjay – in this last game, he bowled three crucial overs and one power play over. So, that is positive for us. And that is how a game goes – it is another tournament and I think we have to learn from our mistakes.” 

Reflecting back on how the tournament went for the Desert Vipers: “(I feel) disappointed at the moment, because we did not qualify for the finals as we played good cricket in patches. We did not play a complete game throughout the tournament.  We were good in some aspects of the game, like (sometimes) the bowling was good and (in the same match) our batting was not that good. 

“There were a lot of challenges, the conditions were very different, for example in one game we got 200 runs, but they (the Guyana Amazon Warriors) chased down (those) 200 runs, and in the last game (against the Perth Scorchers XI) 110 was difficult to chase down. The nature of the pitches and the conditions are tough here and you have to adapt and learn quickly and move on.

“I think we did not do that well (in this game) and I think we were not proactive in terms of the batting – where the intent was not great. And then, with the ball, you know when the guys (Tim Robinson and Oliver Peake) were playing well we did not change a lot in the bowling and the spinners kept bowling. I think Shadab missed the trick there.” 

The Desert Vipers were made to fight hard for a one-wicket win against the Perth Scorchers XI in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) on Tuesday night in a contest that went right down to the wire. In doing so, they have knocked out the Scorchers and qualify for the playoffs.

Set just 113 to win, the Vipers’ run chase was full of ups and downs, but it was Player of the Match Rilee Rossouw, whose 50 from 31 balls on a pitch where no other batter looked comfortable, that was the key difference maker for Shadab Khan’s side.

Earlier the Vipers won the toss, opted to bowl first and took advantage of playing on a used surface to produce a highly disciplined effort, limiting the Scorchers to just 112 for six in their 20 overs. The six bowlers used conceded just six fours and two sixes while bowling a total of 52 dot balls.

Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre was the pick of the attack, finishing with two for 14, and he, Shadab and Vitel Lawes, between them, took five for 48 from 12 overs to strangle the life out of the Perth innings.

The Vipers’ run chase was a dramatic affair with wickets falling at regular intervals. Only Rilee Rossouw, making his second successive half-century to cement his place as tournament top run-scorer, seemed unaffected by the conditions. 

In the final over it was down to Vitel Lawes and Nathan Smith to take the team across the line, with the latter hitting the winning runs and to keep the Desert Vipers’ chances in the tournament alive.

The four other teams are in action in the final two group games of the tournament on July 29, but with this victory the Vipers are now in a good position to make it to the Play-Offs.

Match Scores: 

Toss: Desert Vipers

Perth Scorchers XI : 112/6

Top-scorers: Andre Fletcher 40 (47 balls) Akeal Hosein 32 not out (35)

Leading wicket-takers: Khary Pierre 2-14, Vitel Lawes 2-18

Desert Vipers: 116/9 (19.5 overs)

Top scorers: Rilee Rossouw 50 (31), Vriitya Aravind 16 (19)

Top wicket-taker: Akeal Hosein 4-15

Match Result: Desert Vipers won by one wicket with one ball to spare 

Player of the Match: Rilee Rossouw

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers Assistant Coach Shane Dowrich

On how the match went right down to the wire, despite the Vipers restricting the Perth Scorchers to 112/6, the lowest total so far in this year’s competition: “I think, looking at the score we were able to restrict them to, you would tell yourself that you are getting that (win) every day of the week, but these conditions in Guyana make it tough and we always know that it is a place where bowlers are always in the game so we always try to take it as deep as possible and just try to get over the line and we managed to do that today.”

On the final stages of the run chase and how Vitel Lawes and Nathan Smith managed to take the team across the line: “There were a few nerves around but we always knew that we would get over the line. It was not a massive total and we needed to keep our cool and assess the situation and play accordingly. I think young Vitel Lawes was really good in the situation, he kept his calm and he was able to find the boundary and also very importantly get Nathan back on strike to win the game for us.”

On how the spin attack was very effective for the Vipers, with three bowlers bowling 12 overs, and accounting for five of the six Perth Scorchers XI wickets to fall: “They (the spinners) did bowl well but I think the pitch was really assisting our spinners. We always knew that this pitch was the one that spins a little bit more than the other two that we played on, but credit to them for sticking to the plans and Khary (Pierre) was just phenomenal in the power play. He was very stingy, he hit his areas and he was able to restrict the batsmen from getting the boundaries. I think all of our bowlers on the whole have been sticking to the plan as well and they have been working out for us.”

On why most batters, with the exception of Rilee Rossouw, struggled in the tough conditions: “I think in Guyana it is very tough (for the batters) to start, so our batters did not really get off to the start they wanted in the power play and then there was a little bit of a stutter after that. But Rilee’s been in good form and he seems to have found a way to score on these pitches and I think that is what really carried him through today.”

On the mood in the Vipers camp after back-to-back victories and a real chance of making it in to the play-offs: “I think we are very happy to be giving ourselves a chance to get into the play-offs and then see where we are at but at the end of the day we have got to make sure that we play it one game at a time and see if we can take it right to the end.”

Dubai, UAE (July 27, 2026) – The Desert Vipers pulled off a crucial nine-wicket win against the San Francisco Unicorns to keep alive their chances in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL).

The Vipers were rewarded for a fantastic all-round performance, highlighted by powerful half-centuries from Player of the Match Zachary Carter and Saiteja Mukkamalla and a four-wicket haul from captain Shadab Khan.

The Unicorns won the toss and surprisingly decided to bat first despite the fact that historically in this tournament teams have preferred to chase, especially under lights. They were restricted to just 151 for seven after the Vipers produced a disciplined effort with the ball, using seven bowlers and conceding only 11 fours and six sixes.

Shadab Khan was the pick of the attack with four for 13, and that included the crucial first wicket of Connor Esterhuizen, who made an accomplished 37 as opener on a surface where it was tough to find any fluency due to spin and frequent low bounce.

Those four successes mean Shadab has a total of seven wickets for the tournament, making him joint leading wicket-taker alongside another leg-spinner, Usama Mir of the Lahore Qalandars.

Set 152 to win, Zachary Carter and Saiteja Mukkamalla – who opened in place of the injured Andries Gous – both hit half-centuries in quick time, scoring a total of five sixes and ten fours between them. Rilee Rossouw came in to finish the job after Carter was dismissed for 55, and he scored 38 off 26, while Saiteja remained unbeaten on 52 as the Vipers sailed to victory with 23 balls to spare.

Significantly, this performance has improved the Vipers’ net run rate and put them in third position on the points table ahead of the San Francisco Unicorns, both teams having a win apiece. The Vipers trail the Guyana Amazon Warriors, with six points from three wins and already through to the play-offs, and the Lahore Qalandars, who have two wins from three matches.

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers batter Saiteja Mukkamalla.

On contributing to an important win for the team

“It is good to contribute to the team’s win. I think the whole team did amazingly today and although the last couple of games did not go our way, I still think we played good cricket. The way the boys came out today helped me as well as it showed we had good intent with the ball and the bat, and it was a good day.”

On coming in for Andries Gous at the top of the order, and his relationship with Gous, with both players featuring for the United States of America

“He was right about the experience. It has been incredible so far and hopefully we win the next one and move through.

“He is a great cricketer. The experience that he has, I just try to learn from it. And, throughout the last couple of years I have been playing with him, it is really an honour to see how he has grown as a cricketer and how he has helped us grow.”

On batting with Zachary Carter, who was in explosive form

“I think it was all him today. The way that he played in that power play, he really killed the game there itself. And I was just watching his incredible talent from the other end thinking that he is just 19 years old; it is amazing. I am pretty sure he has a bright future ahead.”

On being surprised that the San Francisco Unicorns opted to bat first, because historically teams have preferred to chase in the GSL, especially under lights

“I think we were a bit shocked. We thought that they would put us in. I think they might have read the pitch differently, but it was a fresh surface. Maybe they had different thoughts, but I think it definitely played better in the second innings.”

On what the team spoke about on their day off heading into this must-win encounter

“I think, most importantly, we said that we knew that we played good cricket and on both previous losing days we just had moments that we let slip, but overall, we were playing well as a team and knew that with each day we were playing better and better.

“I do not think we came into today’s game thinking that it was do or die, but we just thought we want to come out there and express ourselves and play how we have been playing the last couple of games.”

On needing three wins in a row from here on for the Desert Vipers to win the title

“There is definitely a long way to go, but we are just trying to stay focused on one game at a time and I think we just want to build off the momentum that we have today. We are playing good cricket and hopefully it just carries through for the rest of the tournament.”

On the match against the Perth Scorchers in 24 hours’ time

“They are a quality side, but I think it is best if we just focus on our team and I think our team knows our strengths and how we have been playing. The way we have been playing, we have got some quality youngsters and senior guys, and I think that is what is helping us. I think we just want to carry the momentum into tomorrow’s game.”

The Desert Vipers will next face the Perth Scorchers XI on Tuesday, July 28, at 7pm local time.

Dubai, UAE (July 25, 2026) – The Desert Vipers had a heartbreaking night at the office after the Guyana Amazon Warriors recovered from being 95 for 7 to chase down the franchise’s record-breaking total of 205 in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), winning by two wickets with three balls in hand.

It meant a second defeat in the tournament for the Vipers following on from their 38-run loss to the Lahore Qalandars on Friday and nothing less than two wins against the San Francisco Unicorns and Perth Scorchers will be enough to secure a place in the play-offs.

The sickening aspect of the loss was that the Vipers did plenty right after being asked to bat first following a second loss of the toss in the tournament.

The team became the first side in GSL history to pass 200, posting 205 for 6 from their 20 overs and surpassing the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ previous record of 196, made in season two’s final against Rangpur Riders.

Rilee Rossouw was central to the record total, coming in at number three and batting until the final over. He scored 61 from 48 balls, hitting five fours and a six, and featured in three key partnerships: 49 with Kyle Mayers, 45 from 26 balls with Bevon Jacobs, and 47 from just 22 deliveries with Vriitya Aravind.

But the Warriors found their match-winner in Player of the Match Romario Shepherd, who struck 52 from just 21 balls, and shared a 91-run stand with Mohammad Nabi to set up victory for the defending champions.

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind.

On a disappointing defeat to the Guyana Amazon Warriors despite being in a really good position

“I think it was a really good game of cricket. I think it kept going like a pendulum, it kept swinging. We were favourites and then they were favourites, then we became favourites again.

“And in the end, the partnership between (Mohammad) Nabi and (Romario) Shepherd took the game away from us. But there were a lot of positives for us and I think, if things were just five percent different, we could have won the game pretty easily.

“The results have not gone our way in the past two games, but I think there are plenty of positives. I think we need to take the positives forward and just work on a bit of execution. I think that if we work on that, I am sure that we will turn things around.

“That was a very close game. That could have gone either way if things were different. So I think we just take the positives and hopefully win the next two games and that would put us in a decent situation in the tournament going forward.”

On the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ depth in batting

“I think with the Warriors we all know that they bat pretty deep. They are never out of the game because you get (Romario) Shepherd in at nine and you get Pretorius at 10. So we knew they bat pretty deep.

“So, we were pretty prepared for it and we knew that we had not won that game until we actually won it because of how deep they bat. And so we were always on the game.

“And I think Shepherd just had a day out and it does happen in T20 cricket where one person has a day out and it can change the result.”

On Rilee Rossouw’s innings of 61 for the Vipers

“It was a top innings, I think, especially on a surface like this where wickets were constantly falling and while everyone was getting starts, but we had to bat around someone. I think Rilee put his hand up and he was there until the end. I think that made everyone else’s job pretty easy to bat around him.

“And I think that is what experience does. He has played so much cricket and he knows exactly what needs to be done. And that was a phenomenal innings. It was very good to watch as well.”

On playing the role of a finisher and scoring 28 not out from just 11 deliveries and sharing a partnership of 47 with Rilee Rossouw

“It is a very different role to finish the game. I have always been a top-order batsman, but I have cherished that role of a finisher since I have been a part of the Vipers.

“From the start of January I have been working hard on both my game as a top-order batsman and as a finisher. I know I am probably not the biggest hitter of the ball, but it is about how I can get boundaries and help the team achieve as many runs as possible in the death overs.

“I think batting with Rilee just makes things easier. He did notice something at the start of my innings where he told me I was looking to play too square of the wicket. He has seen me playing the nets and thought I was much better off looking to hit straight. I think that contributed massively because he was spot on with it. I think he gave me a couple of tips and it actually worked really well.

“And to be there with Rilee until the end was good for the team, I reckon.”

The Desert Vipers will next face the San Francisco Unicorns on Monday, July 27, at 7pm local time.

Dubai, UAE (July 24, 2026) – The Desert Vipers opened their ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League campaign with a 38-run defeat at the hands of the Lahore Qalandars from the Pakistan Super League.

The Qalandars won the toss and chose to bat first, and Player of the Match and captain Michael Bracewell (46 not out from 23 balls) and Parvez Emon (with an unbeaten 47 from 33 deliveries) led the charge, adding a tournament-record fifth-wicket stand of 83 from 46 balls to help Lahore to a more than competitive 176/4 in their allocated 20 overs. A total of 67 runs came from the final five overs of the innings, with 40 from the final three overs.

Khary Pierre, one of eight players in the Vipers line-up making their first starts for the franchise, was the pick of the bowlers for the DP World ILT20 champion side, taking two important wickets to finish with two for 14. There was also a wicket apiece for two other debutants, New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith and 19-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes.

The Desert Vipers got their run chase off to a steady start through openers Andries Gous and Kyle Mayers, who shared a 70-run stand in 8.4 overs.

But on a slow, low surface which made run-scoring very difficult as the ball got older, especially for new batters coming in and needing to score quickly, the middle and lower order were unable to maintain the start provided by Gous in particular, with the team finishing on 138/9.

Gous, the leading run-scorer in the recent Major League Cricket in the United States, made a fluent 56 from 38 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring Desert Vipers spin bowler Khary Pierre.

On what went wrong for the Desert Vipers

“I think they (Lahore Qalandars) found the formula in terms of batting first and setting a score and trying to put pressure on the next batting team to try and make the runs.

“I know they (Lahore Qalandars) made a good score. I think we could have restricted them a little more, by about 20 or 25 runs less. But having said that, I think they played well.

“I think we could have executed a lot better, using our slower balls and hitting that length, going across them, and there was a big breeze factor from one side of the field to the other as well. Little things like that we could have done better as a team, but it is the first game and I would not fault anyone; we could have executed better but well played to their batters as well.”

On what was behind his successful bowling stint for the Vipers, where he finished with figures of 2-14 in three overs

“I think it was important to not get too predictable on these kinds of surfaces. The batsmen are looking for you just to bowl wicket to wicket and on the stumps. So, for me, I just tried to vary my pace a lot and carry the batsmen wider and have them thinking.

“And I think that is what caused my two wickets today, having that variation of not only bowling on the stumps, but slowing down my pace a little, wide and straight and stuff like that. I think it worked today fabulously.”

On Andries Gous’ knock of 56, albeit in a losing cause

“Yes, he is in a rich vein of form as you can see. He dominated the Major League Cricket tournament and he has transitioned that into this tournament. He played very well and I wish he could have carried his bat a little longer, and I think with him there, we could have won the game still.

“I think he played very well and he was timing the ball nicely. He is a touch player and he showed that today.”

On how the Desert Vipers’ next game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday is a must-win game

“I think all the games are must-win games, to be honest. It is a short, sharp tournament and you have to try and win as many games as possible.

“We would want to try and get that top spot and if we cannot get that top spot, we have to try and secure second.”

The Desert Vipers next play defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday at 7pm local time. Guyana already have a win under their belt after beating the San Francisco Unicorns on Thursday.

With one day remaining before the Desert Vipers begin their 2026 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) campaign against the Lahore Qalandars, captain Shadab Khan said the players were excited and that the mood in camp was relaxed and positive.

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, the captain said he believed the team would win their matches if the players performed to their potential and followed their processes.

“I think I feel more excitement than nervousness because it is an honour for me to captain a champion team and be a part of the Vipers family,” he said.

“I am also very excited because we have some exciting talent in our team and we have a mixture of experience and youth. There is no need to be nervous; I am very excited to have these types of players on our team.”

The Desert Vipers play three of their four group matches at night, but their opening fixture against Lahore Qalandars on Friday is a day game. Given the heat in Georgetown and the fact it will be the third match on the same surface, the captain said he expected spin to play a significant role, though he was unwilling to reveal much about the final playing combination.

“I think we will keep the final line-up a secret until the toss, but obviously we have some plans in our mind. 

“Because we are playing an early morning game, what we are assuming will be the conditions might not be the case, and it is possible that when we go there (to Providence Stadium) we might find that the pitch is totally different than what we expected. So that is why we will decide the line-up tomorrow.”

Shadab Khan has successfully captained the Islamabad United side in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for several years now and has had a front seat view of the Lahore Qalandars, the Vipers’ opponents in their opening match of the GSL. He said he had a high regard for one of the most successful teams of the PSL but was confident the Vipers could perform well against them.

“I think the Lahore Qalandars have very good, young and talented players. They have brought some of the best young Pakistani cricketers coming through. So it is definitely exciting to see them.  Some of the players have played in the Pakistan Super League and some of them have come up from the domestic setup and are very talented, and they have a couple of overseas guys as well, so I think they have a very good, balanced side.  

“They have figured out the process of winning trophies and we have seen that in the last five to six years, so definitely they are a very good side and hopefully we will give them a challenge.”

The Desert Vipers squad includes three UAE players: all-rounder Sanjay Pahal, wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind and right-arm fast bowler Matiullah Khan, all of whom represented the team in the DP World ILT20. Fast bowler Khuzaima Bin Tanveer had also been due to travel to Guyana but was unable because of commitments with the UAE national side.

Shadab Khan said he believed the UAE players would play an important role for the Vipers in the GSL.

“I think the tournament is very important for the UAE players, both from the players’ point of view and from the team’s point of view. These players have been with the Vipers for a couple of years now and they have been doing so well. They know the Vipers family well and how it operates and they have built a relationship with the team, where they want to give everything they have to the team.  

“And we want those type of players in our squad, I saw them at training yesterday and they looked in great touch. They have so much hunger and from a captain’s point of view, that is what you need; the hunger and the passion. So it is good for the team because they will bring positive energy to the team.”

Desert Vipers Head Coach Azhar Mahmood has been busy shaping the team’s strategy ahead of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), which gets underway on Thursday, July 23, at Providence Stadium in Georgetown.

The majority of the squad has already assembled ahead of the five-team tournament, which also features the Lahore Qalandars from the Pakistan Super League, the Perth Scorchers representing Australia’s Big Bash League, the San Francisco Unicorns from Major League Cricket in the United States and defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Two late arrivals into the Vipers camp, whom Mahmood has been observing closely, are New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith and West Indies spinner Vitel Lawes. Both were involved in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series between New Zealand and the West Indies, which concluded in Barbados on Tuesday night with a West Indies victory and a New Zealand series win, 3-2 .

Mahmood told Vipers Voices he was especially impressed by 19-year-old Vitel Lawes, who has become the talk of the Caribbean over the past week following a sensational first series in regional colours, taking eight wickets in five matches.

“Vitel Lawes is a young phenomenal talent,” said Azhar. “I saw him bowl last night and I was very excited to see him. This was the first time I saw him bowl and I like his temperament and the fact that he always has a smile on his face – even when he runs in (to bowl) he has a smile.

“That shows me how much he loves the game and that he has a passion for the game and I am looking forward to working with him. And he might be a trump card for us.”

Mahmood added he was pleased that Lawes gave the Vipers a third quality spinner in their bowling attack.

“I have been through all the squads playing in the GSL and every team has three spinners. (With Chris Green absent through injury) we were the only team with two spinners and some part-timers.

“But now we have three quality spinners in our side so we can make our plan for those spinning pitches, decide how we are going to go about that, who is going to bowl in the powerplay and who is going to bowl in the back end. This gives us a bit more flexibility to make our plans.”

The Vipers will be the last team to begin their tournament campaign, opening in a day game on Friday July 24 against the Lahore Qalandars, a side Azhar Mahmood knows well from the Pakistan Super League.

Mahmood said he believed starting later would give the Vipers a clear advantage, allowing them to watch their opponents in action on the tournament’s opening day and assess the conditions.

“I think it can be an advantage because we can see how the pitch is playing, what sort of dew comes in during the later game (on Thursday July 23 when Guyana Amazon Warriors play the San Francisco Unicorns under lights) and whether (evening moisture) has any role in the morning game, because we have one game in the morning and three games in the evening. 

“We will be able to see how the pitch plays in the morning (of the first day of the tournament) and observe the behaviour of the pitch in the evening when the lights are on and see how much dew there is. We can use that advantage of being able to watch conditions and plan according to that.

“So that is an advantage. Also starting a day later means it gives us one more practice day as well.”

Azhar Mahmood said nerves would be a factor in the first match, but he maintained that was a good thing. 

“Yes, I am definitely confident, and, at the same time, I am nervous as well, because it is a new tournament (for the Desert Vipers). Every time until we play the first game, there is a bit of nervousness and that is a good sign because you do not get complacent. 

“The conditions are different, and we have different players coming into the side. This is a short tournament and there is a short turnaround for the players to get some practise sessions in before the matches. 

“So, it is always nerve-wracking until you play or until you bowl the first ball of the first game. But I am excited as well and all the players are very excited and I am looking forward to a great tournament. I feel adapting to these conditions is really important for us.”

The Desert Vipers have confirmed their final squad for the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), with USA top-order batter Saiteja Mukkamalla replacing the UAE’s Khuzaima bin Tanveer, who has been called up for national duty, and West Indies left-arm spinner Vitel Lawes coming in for injured New Zealand batting all-rounder Daryl Mitchell. (Desert Vipers GSL squad)

The Vipers have made several squad changes in recent weeks because of injury and player unavailability, but in-form top-order batter Andries Gous of the USA believes they are well placed to manage the changes in personnel. Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Gous said: “I think the replacements we have got are very capable of doing the job.

“Obviously, Chris Green (who was named as captain but was ruled out because of a hand injury sustained last month) is going to be a massive miss; him and Daryl Mitchell are going to be big misses for us. But Shadab coming in (to the role of captain in place of Chris Green) and even Rilee Rossouw coming in will be great. Rilee is a world-class batter and I think he has shown across the world what he can do. 

“And then Saiteja (Mukkamalla) coming late into this team is great, I reckon he is probably one of the best batters in the United States (U.S.) at the moment. He has got an unbelievably bright future ahead of him and I am really looking forward to seeing him bat outside of the U.S. on tough wickets to try and challenge himself. And I think he is very much capable of performing well.

“So no, I think even though there have been changes, I still feel we have got a really good squad. There is a lot of depth and a lot of options to be used, so I think we will be okay.”

The Desert Vipers will be the last team to begin their tournament campaign, facing the Lahore Qalandars on July 24, the second day of the competition. By then, the Qalandars will already have played their opening match, against the Perth Scorchers on July 23.

Gous said he believed the opportunity to assess the conditions and watch how the other teams performed could work in the Vipers’ favour.

“I think it is an advantage because we can really try and get our combinations right from the start,” he said. “Since it is such a short tournament, there is not really much time to go into a game being unsure of what we want to do.

“We have got to go in and stick with it (the plan). So at least now, when we look at how the morning game is going to play (on 23 July), we will know what to expect. And because the day games are going to be quite similar, I do not think the wicket will be better or worse.

“It will be the same. So at least we will know what to expect and then we can plan our team accordingly.”

Andries Gous enters the tournament in outstanding form, having finished as the leading run-scorer in Major League Cricket (MLC), where his team, Washington Freedom, ended as runners-up. He played a key role in a remarkable run chase against MI New York in Eliminator 1, scoring 132 as Washington successfully chased 267 to win with eight balls to spare.

While Gous said his form would be an advantage, he did not expect much else from the MLC to carry over into the GSL.

“We (as batters) will still be starting on nought, but I think I will be more confident because of the fact that I am seeing the ball well.

“But I think you cannot take too much out of it, as it is a brand new tournament. A lot of new things can happen and Guyana is a tough place to bat. It is really hard work. So the mindset has to be completely different than what it was in MLC. It requires a little bit more grafting and a little bit more thinking out of the box here. 

“In MLC, you could just see the ball and try and hit the ball in some of the stadiums and then in others you had to plan a little bit.

“But in Guyana, definitely you have to really take your time and when you can capitalise, you have to (really) capitalise. And otherwise you just got to keep playing the game for as long as you can.

“So it is going to be interesting how the wicket is going to play since there were a few One-Day Internationals (West Indies played three matches at Providence Stadium against New Zealand earlier this month) played on here as well. So I think it is going to be very interesting, especially the day games, and it is going to be tough.”

Gous, though, said he was confident the Vipers would put on a good show in Guyana:

“I am pretty confident  that we can do something special here. I think we have really got some big match players in our team. In Guyana you just need a few players to step up.

“And if one guy really has a good game, you can completely turn the game around. So it is just who wants it more right now. But I do feel we have got some really big names in our team that like the occasion, that like when it is tough, and they like the grind.

“So we will just have to wait and see. But I think we will be pretty good.”

Gous said he was proud to support the Desert Vipers’ sustainability campaign during the GSL, including the BioBlitz, which will involve the local community documenting local species and plants to raise awareness of declining global wildlife populations and reinforce the message that there is no cricket without nature.

“It is always great when you are part of something like this. The initiative is (about) trying to do all we can to make the world more sustainable and all these things. I think it is obviously a great initiative.

“It is good to be part of it. It is more about awareness that everybody needs to hear. Once everybody is aware we can plan better and we can make better decisions and at the end of the day then the world will be better for it. 

“I think it is awesome that, just like we did at the (DP World) ILT20, that the Vipers have taken this initiative and are trying to make the world a better place. And I am just happy to be part of it.”

Here is a list of players who will represent the Desert Vipers at the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League:

Shadab Khan (PAK) Captain
Bevon Jacobs (NZ)
Nathan Smith (NZ)
Rilee Rossouw (SAF)
Vriitya Aravind (UAE)
Saiteja Mukkamalla (USA) replaces Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (UAE) 
Matiullah Khan (UAE)
Sanjay Pahal (UAE)
Andries Gous (USA)
Vitel Lawes (WI) replaces Daryl Mitchell (NZ)
Kyle Mayers (WI)
Khary Pierre (WI)
Ramon Simmonds (WI)
Zachary Carter (WI)