Former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill on Monday said he is eagerly anticipating a reunion with India pace legend Zaheer Khan, co-owner of the Antwerp Anchors franchise in the inaugural EUT20 Belgium league, scheduled for June 6-14. Guptill, one of New Zealand's stalwarts in white-ball cricket, will represent Antwerp alongside Andre Russell and David Wiese, with former India wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More serving as the side's mentor.

Rekindling Old Rivalries

"Zaheer Khan and I had some good battles on the field during our careers and I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with him and hopefully having a successful time over in Belgium," Guptill said in an exclusive conversation. The veteran batter stressed that the presence of high-profile players and experienced mentors would bolster the team's prospects. "Their experience and influence on the game is going to help because of their background not just in the IPL but also as mentors and coaches," he added.

A Return to Competitive Cricket

For Guptill, who has played sporadic T20 league cricket since retiring from international duty, the EUT20 represents a meaningful opportunity to return to the middle. "For us players that don't get to play that much anymore, it's sporadic, and the opportunity to get back on the field and put your pads and helmet on is always worth jumping into," he said. He confirmed he will be joined by fellow New Zealanders Colin Munro and Max Chu in Belgium.

Competitive Fire Still Burns

Despite his semi-retired status, Guptill insisted his competitive instincts remain sharp. "Your competitive nature never goes away as a cricketer. I'm starting training this week and will do my best to hit the ground running when I get there," he said. He emphasised his intent to deliver strong performances from the outset and mentor younger players, including Nepal's Lokesh Bam, a former teammate in the Nepal Premier League.

A Pathway for Emerging Talent

Guptill underscored the league's value as a developmental platform for associate-nation cricketers and Belgian domestic players. "It creates a pathway for players to bridge the gap between club cricket and international honours. Playing franchise cricket alongside world-class professionals gives them learnings that can help them qualify for World Cups in the future," he explained. He cited Ruben Trumpelmann and Lokesh Bam as examples of players who would benefit immensely from the exposure.

Optimism Tempered with Realism

On the league's inaugural prospects, Guptill was measured but hopeful. "It's the first one, so we don't know how it's going to go, but everything I hear suggests it's running smoothly. There will be teething issues in the first season — that's the nature of these ventures — but hopefully it can build from there," he said. He expressed confidence that if successful, the league could expand to multiple cities and attract more international talent, strengthening Belgian cricket's infrastructure.

First Visit to Belgium

This will be Guptill's maiden trip to Belgium. "I'm really looking forward to it. I know a couple of other people heading across as well from New Zealand, so we'll have a great time both on and off the field," he concluded.