SA20 2024: Kieron Pollard Replaces Rashid Khan As MI Cape Town Captain Amid Rift Rumors

Veteran West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard is all set to lead Mumbai Indians Cape Town in the SA20 2024. Pollard will be leading MI Cape Town due to the unavailability of Rashid Khan as he is recovering from his injury.

In a statement released by the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Rashid Khan is still recovering from his back injury due to which he has been ruled out of the SA20 2024. Rashid also didn’t play the T20I series against UAE and the Big Bash League 2024. Rashid Khan has been named in Afghanistan’s three-match T20I squad against India, but, his availability in the series is still under the radar.

The MI Cape Town management issued a press release and informed about the development for the same.

The press release reads, “Kieron Pollard will be the captain for MI Cape Town in the second season of the SA20. Rashid Khan is unavailable currently, as he continues his recovery from injury. MI CT wish Rashid a quick recovery and look to have him back on the playing field soon.”

Kieron Pollard to lead MI Cape Town

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Kieron Pollard will be captain for MI Cape Town in SA20.

Read more: https://t.co/qARqOIPv4T#OneFamily #MICapeTown #SA20 pic.twitter.com/f706kpymJW

— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) January 7, 2024

Kieron Pollard has had a deep affiliation with the Mumbai Indians and has played for the franchise for more than 10 years in the Indian Premier League. After retiring from the cash-rich league, Pollard is now the batting coach of the five-time IPL champions.

Mumbai Indians Cape Town had a disastrous performance in the previous edition of the SA20 and they finished at the bottom of the table. MI Cape Town played a total of ten games in the whole tournament and were only able to win three matches.

Kieron Pollard was also retained by the MI Emirates for the ILT20 2024 and was also the captain of the side. However, the dates of ILT20 and SA20 were clashing due to which Pollard was replaced by Nicholas Pooran as the team’s captain. Pollard is more likely to join MI Emirates for the last leg of the ILT20.

Kieron Pollard is one of the legends of the Mumbai Indians wherein he has won the team many matches at his own will. Pollard’s one of the most famous innings have come in the IPL 2013 and 2015 final against Chennai Super Kings wherein he singlehandedly took the game away from CSK.

Kieron Pollard was recently seen in the Abu Dhabi T10 league wherein he played for the New York Strikers wherein he lost the final against Deccan Gladiators. Pollard has won a lot of CPL titles while leading Trinbago Knight Riders and will want to do the same for MI Cape Town.

Kieron Pollard didn’t play for the MI Cape Town in the previous edition of the SA20 and now will aim to help them win the first title of the league.

Kieron Pollard was also called up by England’s men’s cricket team and now will be on the coaching staff of their T20I side. Pollard has played a total of 101 T20I matches and has scored 1569 runs at an average of 25.30. His highest score has been 75*.