Pollard brushes aside criticism
West Indies Twenty20 Captain Kieron Pollard was philosophical about the criticism levelled at the composition of the squad for the ICC World Cup, starting on Sunday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
The selection of the squad has come under fire from the man in the street all the way up to political leaders around the Caribbean with the form, fitness and suitability for several senior players drawing condemnation.
“One thing I realise in life, and I have come to understand is that no matter what you do, you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t, so even if you pick John Browne, Jim Doe or Tim, we will have criticism whatever you do,” Pollard said during an online media conference on Wednesday.
“We do well, we still get it, so for us, we’re focusing on the task at hand, and this is the group of guys that we have, and this is the group of guys we have selected to go and try to defend the World Cup, so it is what it is.”
Pollard also brushed aside concerns about the form of the batsmen in the team, many of whom have been playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE on the same pitches that will be used for the World Cup.
“Those who did not take part in the IPL would have had some time off and some guys would have come (from the Caribbean) and had time to reflect during quarantine and looking forward to a big World Cup tournament,” he said.
Pollard will be taking part in his first World Cup — either One-day or T20 Internationals — for the first time in seven years.
He missed the last two ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2019 because of nonselection and the 2016 T20 World Cup with injury.
Pollard said he has been struggling with moving from one bio-secure bubble to the next and threw his support behind the decision of veteran batsman Chris Gayle to take a break from the IPL ahead of the World Cup.
“As the leader of the team, I try to gear myself and get myself in the best shape and the best order mentally, physically, and emotionally, so I can lead to the best of my ability. I look forward to this World Cup.”