Pollard Responds to Boos After Leading TKR to Fifth CPL Title

Veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard hit back at sections of the crowd after leading Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to their fifth Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title on Sunday night, defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors in a high-stakes final.

Despite the on-field triumph, the 38-year-old former West Indies captain chose to focus not on the silverware, but on the persistent jeering he has endured over the years — particularly in Guyana — where partisan fans have regularly booed him during CPL games.

“It [winning the title] means a lot, but one thing I will say — there are three countries in the Caribbean where we have played, and the booing is boring now,” Pollard said during the post-match presentation.
“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 [T20] format. But we still don't appreciate him. I’m not bitter, but I feel sorry — not for myself.”

Pollard, who remains one of the most decorated T20 cricketers globally, emphasized that he has always focused on playing the game with integrity and pride.

“Kieron Pollard has played cricket, that's what I know. I got the opportunity, God has given me a talent, and I have represented my family and my country. I don’t politicise things — I do it because I love the game, I love the sport.”

The all-rounder also reflected on the irony of being part of a dominant, title-winning side while still facing public hostility in certain parts of the Caribbean.

“This means a lot — five-time champions — but it’s quite ironic that we are still the laughing stock of cricket in the world,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Pollard has spoken out about the lack of appreciation he feels in parts of the region. In 2019, after being booed in Providence, he had remarked:

“It's amazing to know that I'm right from Trinidad and Tobago and you walk into the cricket ground, as much as you're supporting a team, and [you're] booing a West Indies player as well — so that goes to show the kind of characters we have going around the Caribbean.”

Despite the off-field noise, Pollard continues to be a central figure in West Indian franchise cricket, known for his leadership, match-winning ability, and influence on the younger generation.

With the latest title, Pollard adds yet another chapter to his storied CPL legacy, even as the debate over crowd behaviour and regional unity in Caribbean cricket rages on.