Caption: Kieron Pollard
By Prior Beharry
TRINBAGO Knight Riders’ Kieron Pollard railed against persistent booing from sections of the crowd after guiding his side to the CPL 2025 title with a win over hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence on Sunday.
“It means a lot,” Pollard said of his 18th championship in the T20 format.
He told Daren Ganga in a post-match interview: “But one thing I’ll say. There’s three countries in the Caribbean where we have played, the booing is boring now. 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. Yet, we still don’t appreciate him. I’m not bitter but I feel sorry, not for myself.”
The 38-year-old allrounder, who has faced hostile receptions across the region in recent seasons, added: “Kieron Pollard plays cricket and 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 and I love the sport. This means a lot — five-time champions. Going around the Caribbean at 38 years old… but we’re still the laughing stock of cricket in the world.”
Pollard’s comments follow similar scenes during CPL 2024, when he was booed at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia while scoring an unbeaten half-century, having previously captaining the franchise there.
On the field, the TKR captain capped a landmark season. With this title, Pollard claimed his 18th T20 trophy, moving past close friend and current TKR coach Dwayne Bravo with 17 for the most in the format’s history.
He took four catches in the final, the first at short leg and the other three behind the bowler on the boundary ropes, acknowledging the crowd every time.
He was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 383 runs in 11 innings at an average above 50 and a strike rate near 175. His 36 sixes were the most by any player in the 2025 CPL.
Pollard was non-committal about his CPL future as a player. Having already retired from the IPL and begun coaching there, he said his immediate focus is family time, but confirmed he will feature in the upcoming ILT20 in the UAE.
“I can’t tell you the future,” he told broadcaster Daren Ganga. “I can only deal with what’s in front of me. I have a flight coming up and I’m getting home to the kids… Let’s see what happens. At the end of the year, I’ll still be playing in the ILT20 in Dubai. So that’s the only thing I can tell you at this point of time.”
