Table of Contents
Defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors face San Francisco Unicorns at their home ground, Providence Stadium, in the second match of Global Super League 2026. San Francisco Unicorns become the first ever Major League Cricket team to compete in the GSL, arriving just days after finishing as runners-up in this year’s MLC final. In this preview you will find the match details, squad changes, pitch report and two GAW vs SFU fantasy team options, one safe and one for grand leagues.
For Indian viewers, the match starts at 4.30 AM IST on July 24, a 7.00 PM start in Guyana on July 23.
GAW vs SFU Match Details
Match: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs San Francisco Unicorns, 2nd Match, Global Super League 2026
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026 (evening local, early morning IST on July 24)
Time: 4.30 AM IST | 7.00 PM local, Guyana
Venue: Providence Stadium, Guyana
TV: Sony Sports Ten Network
Streaming: Sony LIV
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Defending Their Title At Home
Guyana Amazon Warriors won last year’s Global Super League and go into this tournament as defending champions, with the added advantage of playing every match at their own home ground. South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir continues as captain, leading a squad with a strong West Indian core in Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell and Gudakesh Motie, alongside Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris.
San Francisco Unicorns: MLC’s First GSL Team
San Francisco Unicorns become the first team from Major League Cricket to play in the Global Super League, arriving fresh off finishing as runners-up in this year’s MLC final, where they lost the Challenger to Washington Freedom before Washington Freedom went on to face Los Angeles Knight Riders in the final. Their GSL squad features Fabian Allen, Peter Siddle and Sanjay Krishnamurthi among a group blending MLC-proven performers with a mix of overseas and domestic talent.
GAW vs SFU Head To Head
This is the first meeting between these two franchises in the Global Super League, since San Francisco Unicorns are competing in the tournament for the first time this year. There is no head to head history to draw on for this match.
GAW vs SFU Squads
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell, Gudakesh Motie, Dwaine Pretorius, Johnson Charles (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Haris, Amir Jangoo, Quentin Sampson, Keemo Paul, Matthew Forde, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
San Francisco Unicorns: Connor Esterhuizen, Peter Siddle, Oliver Peake, Gideon Peters, Callum Stow, Tim Robinson, Hassan Khan, Anirudh Immanuel, Saideep Ganesh, Karima Gore, Fabian Allen, Hammad Azam, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Ghulam Mudassar
Note: San Francisco Unicorns had not confirmed a captain for this squad at the time of writing.
Providence Stadium: Recent Form
Providence Stadium was the venue for last year’s CPL playoffs, and recent matches at the ground have tended to be tight, low-scoring affairs. Guyana Amazon Warriors themselves featured in two of the three most recent matches at this ground, including a final defeat to Trinbago Knight Riders.
Recent matches at Providence Stadium:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Final, CPL 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders | Trinbago Knight Riders won |
| Qualifier 2, CPL 2025: Saint Lucia Kings vs Trinbago Knight Riders | Trinbago Knight Riders won |
| Qualifier 1, CPL 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Saint Lucia Kings | Guyana Amazon Warriors won |
GAW vs SFU Probable Playing XIs
Guyana Amazon Warriors (probable): Johnson Charles (wk), Amir Jangoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Dwaine Pretorius, Keemo Paul, Gudakesh Motie, Imran Tahir (c), Matthew Forde
San Francisco Unicorns (probable): Tim Robinson, Connor Esterhuizen, Anirudh Immanuel, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hammad Azam, Fabian Allen, Saideep Ganesh, Hassan Khan, Peter Siddle, Ghulam Mudassar, Oliver Peake
Key Player Battles
Rovman Powell vs San Francisco Unicorns’ bowling attack: Powell’s finishing power was on display throughout this year’s MLC playoffs he faced as an opponent, and how the Unicorns’ bowlers handle him at the death could shape the whole match.
Imran Tahir vs San Francisco Unicorns’ top order: Tahir’s leg-spin has been central to Guyana’s success in this tournament, and containing him early will be key for the Unicorns if they are to post a competitive total.
Fabian Allen vs Guyana’s middle order: Allen’s left-arm spin and lower-order hitting give San Francisco Unicorns a real all-round threat, and his battle with Guyana’s middle order through the middle overs is worth watching closely.
GAW vs SFU Fantasy Team (Small Leagues)
Wicketkeeper: Johnson Charles
Batters: Rovman Powell (C), Shimron Hetmyer (VC), Sanjay Krishnamurthi
All Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Fabian Allen
Bowlers: Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie, Peter Siddle, Matthew Forde, Hassan Khan
Powell is captain given his finishing power and big-match experience, and Hetmyer takes the vice-captaincy as another proven West Indian hitter. Nabi and Allen cover the all-round bases for either side, and Tahir and Motie lead the bowling picks as Guyana’s most experienced spin options.
GAW vs SFU Fantasy Team (Grand Leagues)
For grand leagues, this second GAW vs SFU fantasy team brings in Amir Jangoo and Anirudh Immanuel as lower-owned alternatives to the headline names.
Wicketkeeper: Amir Jangoo — differential
Batters: Rovman Powell (C), Anirudh Immanuel (VC) — differential, Connor Esterhuizen — differential
All Rounders: Dwaine Pretorius, Hammad Azam
Bowlers: Imran Tahir, Ghulam Mudassar — differential, Keemo Paul, Saideep Ganesh — differential
Immanuel and Esterhuizen both offer upside without the ownership Hetmyer or Krishnamurthi are likely to draw. Ghulam Mudassar and Saideep Ganesh are the wildcard bowling picks for San Francisco Unicorns, both capable of a breakout performance in the team’s tournament debut.
Also Read- LHQ vs PRS Fantasy Team, 1st Match: Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Report And Prediction
GAW vs SFU Match Prediction
Guyana Amazon Warriors go into this match as defending champions with the added advantage of playing at their own home ground, and a squad built around real West Indian power in Powell, Hetmyer and Shepherd. San Francisco Unicorns arrive with plenty of recent big-match experience from their MLC campaign, but this is their first appearance in the GSL and a new tournament often takes time to adjust to. Guyana get a clear edge here on home advantage and tournament pedigree, though the Unicorns have shown through MLC that they are capable of competing with quality opposition.
FAQs
Q. When is the GAW vs SFU match?
A. Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Providence Stadium, Guyana, starting at 7.00 PM local time, which is 4.30 AM IST on July 24.
Q. Where can I watch GAW vs SFU live in India?
A. The match will be telecast on Sony Sports Ten Network and streamed live on Sony LIV.
Q. Who is Guyana Amazon Warriors’ captain?
A. Imran Tahir captains Guyana Amazon Warriors, the defending champions of this tournament.
Q. Is this San Francisco Unicorns’ first Global Super League appearance?
A. Yes. They are the first ever Major League Cricket team to play in the GSL.
Q. How did San Francisco Unicorns’ MLC 2026 season end?
A. They lost the Challenger to Washington Freedom, who went on to face Los Angeles Knight Riders in the final.