CRICKET-Title hinges on handling pressure, say coaches ahead of CPL showdown.

PROVIDENCE, Guyana, CMC – The stage is set for a classic Caribbean Premier League finale as long-time rivals, the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), prepare to clash at the Providence Stadium here Sunday night.

With a trophy on the line and a fervent home crowd expected, emotions are running high, but both camps agree the title will be won by the team that best masters the pressure.

In a fascinating meeting of minds on the eve of the final, coaches Lance Klusener of the Amazon Warriors and Ottis Gibson from TKR identified emotional control as the decisive factor.

Gibson, the assistant coach for TKR, emphasized his team’s reliance on a core of globally decorated veterans, including Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine, to navigate the high-stakes environment.

“Emotions, that’s the beauty of sport. I guess the team that handles those emotions the best will most likely come out on top.

Guyana will have home advantage and a lot of crowd support behind them. But we, as Trinbago, will also carry a lot of traveling support.”

He pointed to his players’ proven pedigree in crunch moments. “We’ve got a lot of experienced players that have won big finals before, IPL, World Cups, and we’ve been leaning on that experience throughout the tournament. And we will be doing that tonight as well.”

His counterpart, Lance Klusener of the Amazon Warriors, offered a succinct agreement. For him, the challenge is purely cricketing.

“It’s just about controlling those emotions and trying to make sure they don’t get in the way of making cricketing decisions on the move,” Klusener said.

Adding a compelling layer to the narrative is the quest of TKR’s Nicholas Pooran. Hailing from Trinidad, the spiritual home of T20 cricket, Pooran has evolved into a global six-hitting phenomenon.

Yet, despite 12 seasons, the CPL title has eluded him. Gibson confirmed that winning his home league has provided the star batsman with “extra motivation.”

A five-year drought has driven TKR, their last championship coming under Pollard’s leadership during an unbeaten campaign in 2020.