West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran said the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa starting on Saturday (June 26) in Queen's Park in Grenada will give the side a chance to know each other better to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
He also called for the full support of the West Indians and the Caribbean people as they are looking to get the momentum back ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021 to be held October-November.
Pooran in a virtual press conference on Friday (June 25): “I think we picked our best 18 provisional squad. It's important for us just to get momentum, get our fans back again. We want the full support of West Indians and the Caribbean people.”
He further added, “I just believe that we are building towards the World Cup and we have to function as a team. Everyone knows how good Chris Gayle is, Andre Russell, Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo and the rest of the guys, but at the end of the day, if we can believe in each other that is really important for us.
I think we have 3 series before the World Cup. And it's been a while since we've been together for a long time. So, we have a chance to mingle, we have a chance to look out for each other, we have a chance to learn about someone better.”
Pooran said West Indies must come together and perform if they want to win the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. He said, “So, to me, it's not all about the cricket but is how much we could look out for each other, how much we can be a team.”
He added, “At the end of the day, you don't win a World Cup by one person performing or two persons performing, but by everyone playing their part and that's our key. Our keys are to look after each other, be as honest as we can with each other and then you know the results on the field will take care of itself because at the end of the day, we all want to perform, we all want to win.”
On being appointed as the West Indies vice-captain of the T20I side, Pooran said: “I'm very thankful for the opportunity. Especially being a young guy with a team full of you know, when I was growing up, I looked up to Bravo, Gayle, and looked at these guys on TV.”
He concluded, “And it's a wonderful opportunity that I'm getting here especially and the T20 formats, you know, we have Pollard who has played most number of games, Gayle has the most T20 runs, Bravo with most amount of wickets. It's a wonderful opportunity for me not only to learn from Pollard but from the rest of the guys, and you know, it's the opportunity that anyone would want.”
(With ANI Inputs)
