After a terrible T20 World Cup 2022 campaign in which the two-time T20 world champs West Indies couldn’t even manage to qualify for the Super 12s stage, keeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has stepped down as the white-ball captain of the side with immediate effect.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed on November 21, 2022, that Pooran relinquished the captaincy of the team in limited overs.
Winners of the tournament in 2012 and 2016, the West Indies was made to play in the first qualifying round of the T20 World Cup 2022 and they were shockingly defeated by Scotland first and then by Ireland, while they managed to defeat Zimbabwe.
But this was not enough as they crashed out of the tournament without making it into the main round for the first time ever in the history of the tournament.
Nicholas Pooran had taken over the captaincy of the side after Kieron Pollard retired from international cricket and had beaten Australia 4-1 in a T20I series at home.
The Cricket West Indies quoted Nicholas Pooran saying:
“I have given the captaincy a great deal of thought since the enormous disappointment of the T20 World Cup. I took on the role with great pride and dedication and have given it absolutely everything over the past year. The T20 World Cup is something that must not define us and I will readily get involved in the upcoming reviews. And whilst it will be several months until we reconvene as a squad, I want to give CWI plenty of time to prepare for the matches against South Africa in March and beyond.”
Overall, Pooran led the team in 17 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 23 T20Is, recording Series wins against the Netherlands (ODI 3-0) and Bangladesh (T20I 2-0).
He added:
“This is not me giving up. I remain ambitious and still view the captaincy of West Indies cricket as an honour that is bestowed upon you. There is no doubt I remain fully committed to West Indies cricket and I look forward to providing my services as a senior player in a supportive role. By stepping down now as the West Indies white ball captain I believe it is in the best interests of the team and for me personally, as I need to concentrate on what I can deliver to the side as a player. I desperately want us to be successful and the most value I can give to the team is through fully focusing on the role of consistently scoring runs at crucial times."
“I am very thankful to CWI for the opportunity and faith shown in me and for the support that I have received by our devoted fans since taking the role, and to my teammates who have worked so hard as well. I know we have it in us to carry West Indies cricket forward and be proud,” he signed off.
The West Indies Men’s next white ball series is against South Africa in March 2023 (directly after the two-Test Match Series) and consists of three ODIs and three T20Is.
(Cricket West Indies inputs)
