Pollard heads to Trinbago Knight Riders for CPL 2019

Kieron Pollard will turn out for Trinbago Knight Riders, his “home side”, for the 2019 edition of the Caribbean Premier League.

Pollard, one of West Indies’ premier short-format all-rounders, has never played for the Trinidad and Tobago franchise in the CPL so far, neither in its earlier Red Steel avatar nor the revamped Knight Riders. He spent five seasons with Barbados Tridents and the last one with St. Lucia Stars.

This time, for the tournament running from September 4 to October 12, Pollard will be Knight Riders’ marquee player.

“We are delighted to welcome Pollard back home and it’s great to continue our efforts to bring as many Trini boys home as possible,” Venky Mysore, the team director, said in a statement. “I can’t wait for the reaction of the fans when Pollard takes the field at our opening game on 4 September.”

Pollard – who will turn 32 on May 12, the same day on which he will be in the mix for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2019 final – will be hoping to then return home and try to help Trinbago Knight Riders add to the three CPL titles they have won to date, in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Pollard has, however, tasted glory at the CPL in the past, having led Tridents to the title in 2014.

He is the most experienced T20 player in the world, having played 474 matches so far – 59 of them internationals and the rest in leagues around the world – scoring 9,275 runs and taking 261 wickets.

The remainder of the squad will be selected at the players’ draft, to be held on May 22. (ESPNCricinfo)