Kieron Pollard will lead the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the regional Super50 Cup which will be played from February 4 to 27 in Antigua and Barbuda.
An impressive 33-year-old appointment by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board completes the national cricket squad’s management team following the recent naming of David Furlonge and Sebastian Edwards as coach and manager respectively.
Pollard is the current white-ball captain of the West Indies team who recently completed a short tour of New Zealand. He also managed to outrun Trinbago Knights to victory in the Caribbean Premier League 2020 (CPL T20), and was an integral member of the Mumbai Indians who captured the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) Trophy in the UAE.
He became the Super Striker of the Season with a stunning Strike Rate of 191.42.
Under his inspirational leadership, the Red Force likely to include its top players, many of whom are back home after representing the West Indies abroad, will be very conducive to lifting the regional championship.
On Sunday, in response to being given the captaincy, Pollard said it is clearly an honor and privilege to lead the national team, but bringing home the stylish Super50 silverware is only one part of his objective.
He hopes the younger players in the squad will relish the opportunity to step up their game and push themselves into contention for a regional selection that should be the highlight of their cricket career.
Pollard said their regional achievements would go unnoticed and will bring his righteous rewards of international franchises in the way he has built his reputation over the years.
Pollard, one of the most popular T20 cricketers in the world, said bubble playing has become “new normal” and despite presenting unique challenges to the cricketers, it is another great opportunity to develop psychological toughness and mental.
He recently said he spent more time in quarantine than playing real cricket after taking part in the CPL in Trinidad, then off to the IPL and only recently leading Caribbean cricketers in New Zealand.
However, Pollard said he is looking forward to joining the national cricket squad that is currently training and has organized another 50 overs training match on Monday at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
He said despite being full of strength for the Super50 Cup, the Red Force must perform to the best of their ability on the day in order to win, taking one game at a time.
Pollard expressed confidence in Red Force coach Furlonge and said he had established himself over the years at the champion’s club in Queen’s Park while manager Edwards, president of Merry Boys Cricket Club, also brought outstanding qualifications to his new portfolio.
“We need to build our friendships and put our best effort as a team to success in the Super50 Cup,” said Pollard.
TTTCB President Azim Bassarath said he had high expectations of the Red Force under Pollard’s captaincy whose experience, individual brilliance and leadership qualities, he said, were unmatched.
“We at the TTCB believe that Kieron remains a great servant of the game of cricket and will continue to mentor and play a vital role in passing on his vast knowledge to the young people he believes have a future bright with the right mindset and application. The entire cricket fraternity welcomes Kieron to his latest role and we wish him all the best in the upcoming Super50Cup, ”Bassarath said on Sunday. (TTCB)