Two days after leading West Indies in an international match for the first time, Trinidadian Kieron Pollard has been appointed captain of Barbados Tridents in the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The big, hard-hitting batsman is one of five franchise players set to lead the six sides in the July 30 to August 24 tournament across the region.
It is the first time the 26-year-old will captain a side in any major tournament but was West Indies vice-captain for a limited-overs series last year.
Pollard gained the nod ahead of Barbadians Dwayne Smith, the island’s captain in the Caribbean Twenty20 earlier this year, and Kirk Edwards, a former West Indies vice-captain and captain of the Barbados team that won the 2013 regional four-day title.
Pollard is vastly experienced in the Twenty20 form of the game, having played 202 matches in cricket’s shortest form for a variety of teams around the world, including reigning Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians, Somerset, South Australia and Dhaka Gladiators.
After leading West Indies to a tense one-wicket victory over India in the Celkon Mobile Cup at Sabina Park last Sunday, Pollard said he wasn’t daunted by the challenge.
“It wasn’t much pressure. The pressure was at the end of the game. We have experienced guys in the team, guys who have captained West Indies before, guys who have played cricket all over the world,” he said.
“Their knowledge and experience were always going to help me in going about the task of trying to lead West Indies. The pressure wasn’t there at all. It was just a matter of us doing the right things.”
The other captains for the CPL are mainly West Indian franchise players.
Dwayne Bravo will be at the helm of Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel; Chris Gayle will lead Jamaica Tallawahs; Darren Sammy will be in charge of St Lucia Zouks; and Marlon Samuels will captain Antigua Hawksbills.
The only non-franchise player to be appointed as a captain is Ramnaresh Sarwan, who will be the skipper of Guyana Amazon Warriors.
“I have the opportunity to work with and lead some of the best players in the region and the world, and I am looking forward to using my years of experience to guide the Amazon Warriors to victory,” Sarwan said.
It was also announced yesterday that award-winning El Dorado Rum has signed on as official partner for the CPL, bringing its distinctive taste and spirit to the tournament and guaranteeing an unforgettable and fun experience for cricket-goers.
Produced by Demerara Distillers, El Dorado will not only be the rum of choice for the event, but will also sponsor the tournament’s Catch Of The Match award.
This award will go to one player in each of the 24 matches who makes a thrilling catch in the game, demonstrating the spirit of the tournament and the El Dorado brand.
“The El Dorado Rum brand embodies the spirit of Guyana and the Caribbean – competitiveness and fun, hard work and enjoyment – all at the same time. This is the spirit of the Limacol CPLT20 League, styled Carnival T20, making both a perfect match for each other,” said Demerara Distillers vice-president for international marketing Omal Samaroo.
“The growing appreciation and following of El Dorado Rum around the world and the global viewership of CPLT20 presents to the world the best that Guyana and the Caribbean have to offer.” (HG/PR)
