Pollard retires

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard today announced his retirement from international cricket.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, who made his international debut in 2007, revealed his decision in a video on social media in which he said he was proud to have worn the maroon colours for more than a decade.

“After careful deliberation, I’ve today decided to retire from international cricket,” he said in the video on Instagram. “As is the case of many young persons it was a dream of mine to represent the West Indies team from the time I was a boy of 10 years and I’m proud to have represented West Indies cricket for over 15 years in both the T20 and ODI forms of the game.”

He said leading the West Indies team, which he did with “passion, openness, courage, and everything I could ever possibly give both on and off the field without ever compromising my principles and integrity”, was the highest honour bestowed on him.

The Trinidadian, who had captained the West Indies ODI and T20 sides since 2019, expressed gratitude to the West Indies selectors, management teams and, in particular, head coach Phil Simmons “for seeing potential in me and for the faith they steadfastly had in me throughout my career”.

“This and the confidence Cricket West Indies showed in me was particularly reassuring as I stepped up to take on the challenge of leading the team,” he said. “I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the President of CWI Mr. Ricky Skerritt for his unwavering support and encouragement, especially during my time as captain.”

Pollard added that while he would no longer be representing the regional team on the field, he would offer support in other ways, where possible.

“As I move on and make room for those who will carry the game forward in West Indies colours, know that I will always be supporting in whatever way I can. It is with profound gratitude for living my dream that I now raise my bat in salute to all that is West Indies cricket,” he said.

“Respect for my teammates has been a guiding principle of mine and, in turn, I have always felt that reciprocated. This made my job all the more enjoyable and rewarding. For their support, I am ever thankful to all my teammates over the years, both as a player and as captain, and wish each of them continued success in the years ahead,” he added.

Pollard last played for West Indies in February in the ODI and T20I series against India which the Caribbean side lost. Pollard never played Test cricket.

Cricket West Indies today thanked him for his “outstanding service” as a player and captain of the regional side. CWI, which said Pollard had formally communicated the retirement news prior to making the farewell announcement on social media earlier in the day, added that it respected his decision.

“On behalf of everyone at CWI I would like to express our thanks to Kieron Pollard for his outstanding service to the West Indies ODI and T20I teams over the past 15 years,” said Skerritt in a statement.

“We respect his decision to retire from international cricket and are especially grateful for the high quality of leadership and commitment he invested in both West Indies teams since his appointment as our white-ball captain in September 2019. We wish him continued success in his career.”

During his career, the all-rounder was one of the most powerful batters on the international stage and revolutionized the way T20 cricket was played, CWI said, noting that was recently demonstrated when he struck six sixes in an over against Sri Lanka at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua in March last year.

His finest hour, the cricketing body said, came in 2012 as a member of the West Indies team that won the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup when they defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Premadasa Stadium.

Pollard, who is currently in India representing Mumbai Indians in the ongoing 2022 Indian Premier League, made his international debut for West Indies during the 2007 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and played 123 ODIs. He made 2,706 runs at an unflattering average of 26. 01 with a top score of 119 vs India in Chennai in 2011. He also took 55 wickets.

The Trinidadian made his T20I debut against Australia at Kensington Oval in 2008 and appeared in 101 matches. He scored 1,569 runs – including 99 sixes – at an average of 25.30, and also took 42 wickets. His top score was 75 not out against New Zealand in Auckland in 2020; while his best figures were 4-25 against Ireland at Warner Park, St Kitts in 2020.

He is the third-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket, with 11,509 runs in 587 matches at an average of 31.35, most of which came from his participation in global T20 franchises. He has a solitary century and 56 fifties. (CMC)