ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Our Failure To Qualify For The T20 World Cup Speaks Volumes About Our Level In Cricket: Kieron Pollard
Published - 25 Oct 2022, 01:19 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Renowned T20 cricket player for the West Indies, Kieron Pollard, has expressed his dismay at his nation’s early elimination from the T20 World Cup.
After losing to Scotland and Ireland, the Windies, a T20 powerhouse by widespread consensus, were eliminated from the competition.
“A bit surprised, to be honest, that (West Indies) weren’t able to get over the line against the other teams,” Pollard told i95.5 FM, a Trinidad-based radio station.
“But again, that speaks volumes of where our cricket as is at the moment. I feel it. I feel it for the guys because they are the ones that are going to get the bashing. And it’s not all their fault.”
The cricketing community as a whole responded to the elimination. Ricky Ponting, a legend in Australia, slammed into the outcome and termed it a shame.
In a harsh statement, Ricky Skerritt, president of Cricket West Indies, promised to conduct a “post-mortem” right away.
“We have a young captain and young players, men who would have just participated in a few T20 cricket matches, and now they are in the World Cup,” Pollard said.
“And when I look back at it, I sit back and I have a smile on my face. Because I remember some of the things that were said last year around this time when some individuals weren’t selected.”
“It’s a sad day for West Indies cricket and all of us”: Kieron Pollard
After the failure of their most recent World Cup, West Indies cricket underwent a number of changes. They made it plain that they would ignore their legends in favor of focusing on younger talent. Pollard, though, believed that it was the incorrect move and that the team needed more balance.
“I just had to remind these people that we were going to a World Cup (in 2021) and another bilateral series (in New Zealand). And now, some of these individuals will have the opportunity to compete in the World Cup. And, once again, consider what has occurred. It’s not their fault,” he stated.
“But when we tried to sort of protect them and let people understand (in 2021), they were not ready for that, we were lambasted. There were a lot of things that were said that were very derogatory at times. It’s a sad day for West Indies cricket and all of us.”
Legendary players Sunil Narine and Andre Russell were not selected by West Indies for their T20 World Cup team.
