New Zealand vs West Indies T20: Captain Kieron Pollard ready for the Kiwi Challenge

Kieron Pollard, captain of the West Indian cricket team, has completed his 14 day mandatory quarantine period, along with his other team-mates who played the IPL. The players emerging from the quarantine will join the team back, and will have a big challenge in front of them , as they will have just under 24 […]
 
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New Zealand vs West Indies T20: Captain Kieron Pollard ready for the Kiwi Challenge

Kieron Pollard, captain of the West Indian cricket team, has completed his 14 day mandatory quarantine period, along with his other team-mates who played the IPL. The players emerging from the quarantine will join the team back, and will have a big challenge in front of them , as they will have just under 24 hours to regain their match fitness before they face New Zealand in the first T20 match on 27th November.

Pollard and the rest of his teammates, who participated in the IPL that ended earlier this year, joined the rest of the West Indian team on Thursday, after conforming to the quarantine protocols. Many West Indian players including Darren Bravo had arrived in New Zealand in early November, and began practicing to regain match fitness.

A few members of the squad who were present before Kieron Pollard and others arrived on national duty, were rebuked from the squad after breaching the quarantine rules. Pollard, speaking on the eve of the match  against New Zealand said that it was important to remain mentally strong in order to have a good performance.

“We made use of what we could have, from the small group that we have (in which) some guys were playing cricket and some weren’t or were just around their IPL teams. Having said that, it is what is. New Zealand had a couple of guys as well in quarantine,” said Pollard.

Also Read: Can The West Indies Turn Their Woeful Form V New Zealand This Time Around?

It is just a matter of using your mental strength and hopefully coming out and putting these things behind you and see what happens,” added the West Indian captain.

Kieron Pollard also went on to say that the main thing was to focus on the basics and not try to do something special.

“We have known each other for a long time so there’s nothing like you have to talk about bonding and stuff like that. From the last squad, there are only a couple of new guys into the squad. Again, it is a matter of sitting down and having that plan, hopefully, remember the plan and go out and execute that plan,” said Pollard.

“Having said that we have to wary that some guys have not played cricket in some time and we will have to take it easy on emotions and reactions on the cricket field. But the basics of cricket will still apply,” concluded Pollard.

Kieron Pollard comes into the tournament at the back of two title-winning campaigns at the Carribean Premier League, where he led Trinidad and Tobago to the title, without losing a single match in their 12 outings. Pollard also played a pivotal role in guiding Mumbai Indians to their fifth IPL title earlier this month.

Also Read: England Vs South Africa T20Is: Can The Proteas’ Bowling Firepower Keep England At Bay?

Last time when the West Indian team toured New Zealand, it was a disastrous result for them. New Zealand won the three match T20I seris, with a scoreline of 2-0, with one match being abandoned due to rain. Colin Munro and Tim Southee were the star performers for the Black Caps.

Kieron Pollard would be hoping for a much better performance from his West Indian team this time around. The first t20 international is on 27th November, followed by another two on 29th and 30th November.