Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Prediction, Qualifier 1 CPL 2026

League leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors face off against the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in Qualifier 1 of the Caribbean Premier League 2026. The Warriors enter the playoffs as the dominant force, having won eight of their ten league matches, but they must now navigate the knockout stages without internationals Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi.

The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons take confidence from their victory over Guyana on September 8. With a spot in the final on the line, the Falcons’ top order will look to exploit the bounce of the Kensington Oval against a Warriors attack led by the veteran Imran Tahir and high-impact all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Match Details

Pitch & Venue Report

The Kensington Oval is a high-scoring T20 venue, with an average first-innings score of 180+ during CPL 2026. The pitch provides true bounce and carry, favoring stroke-play once batters are settled. While the new ball offers bounce for fast bowlers, spin is expected to become a significant factor in the middle overs.

Probable Playing XIs

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Glenn Phillips, Mohammad Haris (WK), Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Romario Shepherd, Dwaine Pretorius, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Shamar Joseph, Imran Tahir.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons

Evin Lewis, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Amir Jangoo (WK), Fabian Allen, Shamar Springer, Joshua James, Alzarri Joseph, Sufiyan Muqeem, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip.

Fantasy Cricket Top Picks

Wicketkeepers

• Shai Hope: A primary anchor and consistent scorer at Kensington Oval; low-risk fantasy option.
• Mohammad Haris: Joins the squad as a replacement for Gurbaz and is expected to offer aggressive intent at the top.

Batters

• Shimron Hetmyer: A critical middle-order engine for Guyana who can accelerate against both pace and spin.
• Evin Lewis: The Falcons’ aggressive opener capable of match-winning powerplay scores.

All-rounders

• Mehidy Hasan Miraz: High-impact player who recently took four wickets in a game; vital for middle-over control.
• Shadab Khan: Offers dual value with his leg-spin and batting capability.
• Romario Shepherd: Valuable for his lower-order hitting and bowling utility.

Bowlers

• Imran Tahir: The primary wicket-taking weapon for the Warriors with his leg-break bowling.
• Alzarri Joseph: Expected to exploit the Kensington Oval bounce with his pace.
• Jayden Seales: A consistent wicket-taker for the Falcons throughout the season.

Suggested Fantasy XI

CricXtra Match Prediction: Guyana Amazon Warriors are predicted to win based on their league-leading momentum and bowling depth. While the loss of Gurbaz and Nabi is significant, their replacement options and strong domestic core provide a slight edge over the Falcons in this Qualifier 1 encounter.