Kieron Pollard: Sunil Narine had one of the best individual performances in the IPL in Monday’s knockout tournament. But the West Indies will resist the temptation to add him to their squad for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup ahead of Friday’s ICC deadline.
Narine took 4 of 21, including the wickets of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell, to cut the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah to 138 of 7 before hitting the first three legal balls. Which he pinch on six No. 5s faced ensuring Kolkata Knight Riders will reach the second-place qualifier against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. Since the IPL resumed in the United Arab Emirates, he has won 11 wickets in eight games and conceded 6.12 runs over.
The West Indies captain, meanwhile, hopes to have “a fit Andre Russell” during the tournament.
But Narine hasn’t played international cricket since August 2019 for a variety of reasons, missing the cut in the West Indies T20 World Cup squad when it was announced last month after failing to meet minimum criteria for board physical fitness.
Roger harper the lead selector, said at the time:
“Sunil Narine is a great miss for a team like this in a tournament like this. Any team would miss having a bowler of that quality in the team but… [he] did not make our fitness standards.”
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard and a close friend of Narine. Refused to be dragged any further by Narine’s non-confinement at the team’s base in Dubai on Tuesday. But hinted there would be no changes to the 15-team. men, apart from injury or illness.
“That has been explained,” Pollard said. “If I add my two cents or my words to how the untying of him came about. It could be the way he’s bowling all over those Sharjah grounds. Let’s deal with the fifteen guys we have here to have.” At this point, which is more important. We’ll see if we can rally around these guys and defend our title.
“I have no comments on that. Enough has been said on that. I think persons have explained the reason for his non-inclusion at this point in time. For me personally, I know Sunil Narine as a friend first, before an international cricketer. We grew up playing cricket together. He is a world-class cricketer.”
‘Looking forward to having a fit Russell’
Andre Russell, Narine’s KKR teammate, has not played a game in the IPL since Sept. 26 due to injury. Franchise captain Eoin Morgan said last week that Russell “was pushing hard” to get in shape for the playoffs and that he has resumed training, but was not fit enough to participate in the win against the Royal Challengers. Pollard said he hoped to have “a proper Andre Russell” for the World Cup but said clarity was unlikely until he joined the West Indies camp.
Kieron Pollard will compete in his first World Cup in 50overs or T20 cricket. Since the 2014 T20 World Cup after missing the 2015 and 2019 tournaments. Due to not being selected and the 2016 edition due to injury.
He admitted that he had trouble traveling from one bubble to another at times this year. And called for more “attention”. To be paid to the mental health of cricketers while offering support. For Chris Gayle’s latest decision, a brief in the middle. IPL and the start of the World Cup.
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