'Somethings You Don't Dream Of', Kieron Pollard On West Indies' Captaincy

Kieron Pollard will be looking forward to a new challenge as he will be leading the West Indies cricket team in T20Is when they come to India to play three T20Is and three ODIs. It should be noted that this will be Pollard’s first ODI series against India since 2016 as he was dropped from the squad due to a dispute with the earlier Windies Cricket Board.

He was not included in the 2015 World Cup squad but in the wake of their recent flop show, he was selected to replace Jason Holder as the ODI captain and Carlos Brathwaite in T20Is for the upcoming tour against India. Pollard won’t shy away from the challenge while adding that captaincy was sprung upon him.

“It (captaincy) was something that was sprung upon me. I was playing international cricket for a long period of time. I missed out 3 or 4 years. It is no secret what transpired in terms of my relationship with the board and whatever. Again, you know for me it is a simple thing. I can share experience in the dressing room. There are a lot of young guys in the dressing room. And they need the experienced guys also to guide them along so. You know, that’s basically my job. In terms of trying to guide them and set them in the right direction,” Pollard told ESPNcricinfo.

Never dreamt of leading West Indies: Kieron Pollard

Pollard said that he never dreamt of leading the side from the side while adding that he only dreamt of playing for the badge. He wants to make a mark in style by taking the challenge very seriously. “Somethings you don’t dream of. Like you dream of playing for the West Indies but you don’t dream of captaining West Indies. But something falls into your lap and again it’s a challenge and I don’t want to shy away from challenges,” he added.

The first T20I match is scheduled to be played on December 6 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad and the second game will be played at Greenfield International Stadium, Kerala on December 8 and the final match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on December 11.

Read More: Rohit Sharma Reacts After Kieron Pollard Unfollows Him On Twitter

Squads:

West Indies ODI Squad:

Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Khary Pierre, Rostan Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kieron Pollard (captain), Sheldon Cottrell, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Hayden Walsh Jr.

West Indies T20 squad:

Fabian Allen, Brandon King, Denesh Ramdin, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer, Khary Pierre, Lendl Simmons, Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard (captain), Hayden Walsh Jr, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Kesrick Williams.