Guyana Amazon Warriors open their title defence on home turf under lights, with Muhammad Haris and Johnson Charles expected to open ahead of Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell. San Francisco Unicorns, the first MLC franchise ever to compete in the GSL, counter with Connor Esterhuizen and Tim Robinson at the top. Neither camp has reported injuries, so both probable line-ups below rely on squad roles and recent form rather than official confirmation from either franchise ahead of the tournament’s second fixture.

GAW vs SF Unicorns GSL 2026 Playing XI

No official team sheets exist yet for this night match at Providence Stadium, so what follows is a reading of both rosters based on role and recent form. Toss decisions and late fitness calls could still shuffle a name or two before the first ball, but the broad shape of both line-ups is unlikely to shift much given how settled each squad already looks. Guyana Amazon Warriors, the only franchise to have played all three GSL editions and the defending champions from 2025, go in with the deepest all-round core in the tournament.

San Francisco Unicorns arrive as first-time GSL entrants but not as newcomers to franchise cricket, having reached the 2024 MLC final and finished third in 2025. That MLC pedigree matters here, since Major League Cricket runs on similar conditions and similar franchise pressure, giving several Unicorns players a head start on adjusting to a tournament most of their squad has never actually played in before.

Guyana’s Untested Top Order Options

Powell’s likely order stacks power through the middle, with Hetmyer at three and Phillips at five giving the innings two genuine finishers either side of the captain. Shepherd drops to six, which lets Guyana carry both firepower and the bowling all-round depth that has made them the tournament’s benchmark side since its first edition. Nothing about this order looks experimental. It is close to the same top six Guyana has trusted across their two previous GSL campaigns, and continuity like that is exactly why they remain the team every other franchise measures itself against.

San Francisco Builds Around MLC Experience

San Francisco’s order leans on the all-round depth they built during two strong MLC campaigns, with Allen and Azam filling the number four and five slots that usually decide close franchise games. Ganesh drops to seven as designated gloveman, giving the middle order room to play with intent before the tail is even needed. It is a top order built for adaptability rather than raw power, which suits a franchise still working out how its MLC habits translate to a different tournament, a different pitch, and a deeper pool of international bowling talent than most Unicorns players have faced together as a unit.

Bowling Plans on Both Sides

Guyana’s likely attack pairs Shepherd, Dwaine Pretorius, Keemo Paul and Matthew Forde for pace with Mohammad Nabi, Gudakesh Motie and Imran Tahir covering spin, a combination that gives Powell six credible bowling options across a twenty-over innings. San Francisco counter with Peter Siddle, Ghulam Mudassar and Anirudh Immanuel sharing the new ball, while Allen and Hassan Khan add spin and all-round cover in the middle overs. Siddle’s long experience at the death and Mudassar’s control with the new ball give San Francisco a real platform, even if neither side profiles as a bowling attack able to simply blow the opposition away inside the powerplay.

Defending Champions Face a Fresh Test

Guyana Amazon Warriors have never missed a GSL edition and are the only side to lift the trophy so far, which makes them the clear favourites walking into this GAW vs SF Unicorns GSL 2026 playing XI clash, especially on a ground where their squad depth has consistently outlasted opponents across a full tournament. San Francisco Unicorns bring MLC pedigree rather than GSL history, and how quickly their imported top order adjusts to Providence’s surface may decide whether this stays close deep into the night.

Which top order do you back to fire first at Providence? Drop your prediction below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who opens the batting for Guyana Amazon Warriors?

Muhammad Haris and Johnson Charles are the likely opening pair. Both slot in ahead of Shimron Hetmyer at three in Guyana’s probable batting order for this match.

Is this San Francisco Unicorns’ first GSL appearance?

Yes, they are the first-ever MLC franchise to play in the GSL. They arrive off the back of a 2024 MLC final and a third-place finish in 2025.

Have Guyana Amazon Warriors won the GSL before?

Yes, they are the reigning champions from the 2025 edition. They are also the only franchise to have featured in all three editions of the tournament so far.

What time does the second match start at Providence?

The match starts at 7 PM local time under lights. That translates to 11 PM GMT, making it a genuine night fixture at a 15,000-capacity venue.

Who keeps wicket for San Francisco Unicorns?

Saideep Ganesh is the likely wicketkeeper-batter for the Unicorns. He is projected to bat at seven, behind the all-rounders Fabian Allen and Hammad Azam in San Francisco’s probable batting order.