T20 World Cup: Sunil Narine won’t be included in West Indies squad says Pollard – Sunil Narine has lit up the IPL 2021 and played a starring role as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator. The two-time champions are now just two wins away from adding yet another title to their cabinet, and the West Indian all-rounder has yet again played a crucial role for them. However, despite his performances, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard confirmed that Narine won’t be a last-minute inclusion into the T20 World Cup squad after being left out initially.
T20 World Cup: Sunil Narine is a great miss but won’t return to West Indies squad despite stellar IPL reveals captain Kieron Pollard
Sunil Narine has not played international cricket since 2019 and the run is likely to continue after captain Kieron Pollard confirmed that the West Indies will not include him in their final squad for the T20 World Cup despite his IPL 2021 performance. Lead selector Roger Harper had revealed that the Narine did not meet the board’s required fitness standards and hence was dropped from the 15-man team tasked with the challenge of retaining the title. Harper had said, “Sunil Narine is a great miss for a team like this in a tournament like this. Any team would miss having a bowler of that quality in the team but… [he] did not make our fitness standards.”
T20 World Cup: Sunil Narine is a great miss but won’t return to West Indies squad despite stellar IPL reveals captain Kieron Pollard
Captain Kieron Pollard has now reiterated those claims while in the West Indies base in Dubai. Pollard, who is a long time teammate of Narine, refused to be drawn into the debate but maintained that the team would only see any changes if there was an injury or other illness. The West Indian captain said, “That has been explained. If I add my two cents or my words on how his non-inclusion came about, then it could be spun – just like how he’s bowling on these Sharjah wickets – in all different directions. Let’s deal with the fifteen guys that we have here at this moment in time, which is more important, and see if we can rally around these guys and see if we can defend our title.”
No words needed. The picture says it all 💜#KKR #RCBvKKR #AmiKKR #IPL2021 #SunilNarine pic.twitter.com/sJ8MYtVgJE
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 11, 2021
Pollard added, “I have no comments on that. Enough has been said on that. I think persons have explained the reason for his non-inclusion at this point in time. For me personally, I know Sunil Narine as a friend first, before an international cricketer. We grew up playing cricket together. He is a world-class cricketer.”
T20 World Cup: Sunil Narine is a great miss but won’t return to West Indies squad despite stellar IPL reveals captain Kieron Pollard
Narine took 4 for 21 including the wickets of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell – to restrict RCB to 138 for 7 in Sharjah. He then put a nail in their coffin with a breezy 10 -ball 26 after hitting the first three legal balls he faced for six as a pinch-hitting No. 5 to ensure Kolkata Knight Riders’ progression. The two-time champions now face Delhi Capitals on Wednesday at the same venue, with a spot in the final against CSK up for grabs. Since the IPL 2021 resumed in the UAE, Narine has taken 11 wickets in eight matches, conceding 6.12 runs per over.
