‘We are still the laughing stock of cricketing world’: Kieron Pollard hits out at booing fans after CPL triumph

Kieron Pollard is a bona fide T20 great who has witnessed the highs of highs in his career and on Sunday night, the 38-year-old added another feather to his cap after his team, Trinbago Knight Riders, lifted the Caribbean Premier League title for the record fifth time after defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors in the summit clash. Pollard, who was named the Player of the Tournament, was seen as unusually frustrated with the crowd that booed him throughout.

Pollard addressed this while collecting his Player of the Tournament and said, “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. “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.”

‘I don’t politicise things’

Pollard has often been targeted by the crowds, especially from Guyana, where he has been greeted with jeers and boos time and again.

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“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.

One of the most decorated T20 cricketers in the world, the 2012 World Cup winner and the former captain of West Indies, for Pollard the boos have followed him for years.

“This means a lot, five-time champions, but it’s quite ironic that we are still the laughing stock of cricket in the world”, added Pollard.

The 38-year-old veteran now sits just 325 runs behind Chris Gayle at the top of the all-time run-scorers list in the T20s.