Legendary all-rounder, Kieron Pollard of the West Indies, is startled and dismayed by the team’s early elimination from the T20 World Cup and believes all parties involved must shoulder some of the blame. After losing to Scotland and Ireland in the opening round of the T20 showcase in Australia, the two-time champion West Indies could not advance to the Super 12 competition. Pollard told the Trinidad-based radio station i95.5fm that he was “a little astonished, to be honest, that (West Indies) wasn’t able to go over the line against the other teams.”
“But once more, that speaks volumes about where our cricket is. I sense it. Since the boys will receive the beating, I feel bad for them. And it’s not all their fault.” The elimination attracted reactions from across the cricketing world.
In a harsh statement, Ricky Skerritt, president of Cricket West Indies, promised to conduct a “post-mortem” immediately.
Former Australian great Ricky Ponting has referred to the West Indies’ early elimination from the competition as a “disgrace.”
Pollard declared, “Young players who would have just participated in a few T20 cricket matches, including our young skipper, are now in the World Cup.
“And a smile spreads across my face when I sit back and reflect on it. I recall some of the comments made about this time last year when some candidates weren’t chosen.
“I simply had to remind them that we were heading to the 2021 World Cup and another bilateral series (in New Zealand). And now, some people get the chance to compete in the World Cup. And once more, see what has transpired. They are not at blame for it, “said he.
“However, when we tried to safeguard them somehow and explained that (in 2021) they were not prepared for it, we received harsh criticism. There were several remarks made, some of which were rather disparaging. It’s a sad day for us all and West Indies cricket.”
