JERMAINE LANNAMN, STAR Writer

New Guyana Amazon Warriors coach Carl Hooper has expressed satisfaction with his team's selections during the recent Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 player draft.

The Warriors, beaten finalists in the first two editions of the tournament, selected big-hitting Sri Lankan batsman Tilakaratne Dilshan, his compatriot fast bowler Lasith Malinga, and Australian batsman Brad Hodge.

Franchise players off-spinner Sunil Narine and batsman Lendl Simmons were retained prior to the draft.

"I believe we have an experienced T20 squad," said Hooper, who replaced Roger Harper as coach.

"Dilshan is a renowned T20 player and has played all over the world, while Hodge has played a lot of T20 as well, including in India.

"We also have another Sri Lankan batsman in Thesara Perera, who is used to conditions similar to here, and Malinga ... is renowned for good yorkers at the end, and slower balls.

"These guys have played a lot of T20 cricket, and when you add people like Sunil Narine and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, we certainly have a team that can win matches."

Hooper, an assistant coach to Tim Neilsen last year at the Antigua Hawksbills, also said he was hoping to add at least one other high-profile player to their unit, but it did not work out.

"But we had options of a second player, which we managed to get," he said.

The third annual Caribbean Premier League is set to bowl off in June.

Amazon Warriors squad

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Christopher Barnwell, Lasith Malinga, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Thisara Perera, Brad Hodge, Veersammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo, Trevon Griffith, and Assad Fudadin.