'West Indies are a laughing stock in cricket' - Kieron Pollard hits back after fans boo MI legend in CPL 2025 final

Mayank Bande

'West Indies are a laughing stock in cricket' - Kieron Pollard hits back after fans boo MI legend in CPL 2025 final image

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On September 21, Trinbago Knight Riders clinched their fifth Caribbean Premier League title with a 3-wicket win over the 2023 champions Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

This was the first time since 2020 that the Knight Riders were able to clinch the title and avenge the 2023 final defeat.

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In a low-scoring thriller, as TKR chased down the 131-run target with two overs remaining, they faced a little collapse towards the end of their innings. However, a 21(12) cameo at number 6 from Kieron Pollard had them well-placed in the chase.

Unfortunately, the two-time T20 World Cup winner and Mumbai Indians (MI) legend was one of the players who received boos from three different stadiums during the competition, which did not sit well with him.

Kieron Pollard slams Caribbean fans for booing him

Having played his final international match in 2022, the legendary all-rounder is only seen in T20 leagues around the world currently.

As a West Indies player, he represented the Caribbean in 123 ODIs and 101 T20Is, scoring 2706 and 1569 runs respectively.

Having given his best for 15 years, Pollard appeared to be disappointed at being booed and pointed out why WI cricket is still lagging behind the others.

"It [Winning the CPL] means a lot. But one thing I'll say. There's three countries in the Caribbean where we have played, the booing is boring now. We are still the laughing stock of cricket in the West Indies. You have a guy who has represented the entire Caribbean over a period of time, putting them on the map in the format. Yet, we still don't appreciate him. I'm not bitter but I feel sorry, not for myself," said Pollard.

As he continues to play and coach simultaneously, he further elaborates his love for the sport, which pushes him to continue playing as he approaches 39.

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"Kieron Pollard plays cricket and that's what I know. I got the opportunity, God has given me a talent, I have represented my family and my country. I don't politicise things, I do it because I love the game and I love the sport. This means a lot - five-time champions. Going around the Caribbean at 38 years old...but we're still the laughing stock of cricket in the world," he added.

In the championship-winning 2025 season, the finisher scored 383 runs in 11 innings for Trinbago at an average of 54.71 and a strike rate of 174.09 and was named as the player of the tournament.

With the 18th T20 league title, he surpassed his friend and fellow Trinidad & Tobago teammate Dwayne Bravo to become the player with the most titles.

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Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.