West Indies' veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard played a vital role in Trinbago Knight Riders' fifth Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title win. After the three-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final, Pollard opened about the boos from the crowd they get in the Caribbean. He feels that the hostility from the crowd has become boring now.
"It (winning the title) means a lot, but one thing I will say, there's three countries in the Caribbean where we have played, the booing is boring now," Pollard said.
"We are still the laughing stock of cricket in the West Indies. You have a guy who has represented the entire Caribbean over a period of time, putting them on the map in the format. But we still don't appreciate him. I'm not bitter but I feel sorry, not for myself."
Pollard has retired from international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) but the 38-year-old is still a giant in T20 franchise cricket circuit. He is capable of taking down a quality bowling attack with his brute strokeplay, changing the couse of the match.
"Kieron Pollard has played cricket, that's what I know. I got the opportunity, God has given me a talent, I have represented my family and my country. I don't politicise things, I do it because I love the game, I love the sport," he said.
Pollard, the T20 juggernaut
Despite batting lower down the order, he was the sixth-highest run-scorer in the season. From 11 innings, he scored 383 runs at an average of 54.71 and strike rate of 174.09. He scored three fifties and smashed as many as 36 half-centuries. The next on the list is his Knight Riders captain Nicholas Pooran with 29 sixes.
Winning the CPL 2025 meant the world to the all-rounder. He wonders why Knight Riders get the stick from the crowd despite being the most successful franchise in CPL history.
"This means a lot, five-time champions, but it's quite ironic that we are still the laughing stock of cricket in the world," he concluded.
Pollard nears colossal milestone
Pollard is nearing a major personal milestone. He is 326 runs away from becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 history. Currently, the record belongs to Chris Gayle with 14,562 runs from 463 games. His next appearance will be in upcoming ILT20 2025 where he will represent MI New York.