New Zealand stalwart Martin Guptill, who last played for the national side in 2022, is currently representing Sharjah Warriors in ILT20.
New Delhi: New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill has handpicked India, New Zealand and Australia as semifinal contenders for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 that is set to take place in USA and West Indies from June 1. However, he was left undecided among England and Pakistan for the fourth spot. Notably, England and Pakistan were the finalists of the previous edition that took place in Australia. England walked home with the title beating Pakistan by five wickets.
Although the mega extravaganza is five months away, the buzz has already started with the ticket sales going live. A total of 55 matches will be played across nine cities – three in the USA and six in the Caribbean. This is also the first time, the United States has been handed the hosting rights to stage a tournament of such stature.
“It’s a tough one but I would pick Australia, India and New Zealand. I can’t decide between England and Pakistan (laughs)…one of those two,” Guptill, who is currently representing Sharjah Warriors in the ongoing ILT20, told India.com in an exclusive interaction on Thursday from Sharjah.
Guptill, a stalwart in New Zealand cricket, has played a record seven T20 World Cups for the Blackcaps, the last being in 2022. In total, the right-hander played 28 T20 World Cup matches, scoring 617 runs with a highest of 93 that came against Scotland.
Compared to their fifth-place finish in the inaugural edition in 2023, Sharjah Warriors have made a brilliant start in the ongoing season with three wins from their first five games so far. Led by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sharjah Warriors are currently placed second behind table-toppers MI Emirates. Guptill sounded confident of Sharjah Warriors making to the final four.
Baithne ka tarika bada casual hai 😂👌#SharjahWarriors #CapriSports #ShaanSeSharjah #DPworldILT20 pic.twitter.com/0msHtUEuF9
— Sharjah Warriors (@SharjahWarriors) January 25, 2024
“It’s really been positive so far. We have won three out of five games so far and it’s really been a good start for us. We feel like we are tracking at the right direction. Come to the last half of the tournament, hopefully we can finish at the top four and have a crack at the finals,” he said.
ILT20 Going On The Right Track
Taking about the competitiveness of the tournament in its second year, Guptill opined ILT20 is going to do good for cricket in the region. “It is very competitive. There are a lot of world class players playing here and have some great locals (players) as well which is good to see. I think it’s good for UAE cricket. With and against these players from around the world, the local player supply gets better and better.
“Hopefully the trend is going in the positive direction. As I see, this can only be good, I mean this sort of tournament with the guys rubbing shoulders with the guys who have a lot of international experience and play T20 cricket around the world. Let’s hope the track is in the right direction,” said Guptill, who is yet to start in the playing XI for Sharjah Warriors. Instead, he has been used as a Super Sub in four of their five games.
Asked about to compare ILT20 With Australia’s Big Bash League and Indian Premier League, Guptill chose not to. “It’s too hard to answer this. I mean they are all different at their positions and it won’t be fair to rate them,” he added.
Speaking about the hospitality shown towards the players, Guptill heaped high praise for the organisers. “We have been looked after really well. They have made us feel really welcome with families included,” he concluded.