Nicholas Pooran has announced his sudden retirement from international cricket at the age of just 29. His decision is likely to come as a shock to the Caribbean camp, especially since West Indies have been trying for a long time to find stability. The team didn’t even qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Pooran is the West Indies batter with the most appearances in T20 Internationals. He is also their highest run-scorer in this format. But with his unexpected retirement announcement, the explosive batter has truly surprised everyone.
Pooran announced his retirement via Instagram. There, he wrote:
“The game we love has given us so much and will continue to do so — joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and the opportunity to represent the people of the West Indies. Wearing that maroon jersey, standing for the national anthem, and giving my all every time I stepped on the field… the depth of meaning these things hold for me is hard to put into words. Leading the team as captain was an honor I will cherish forever.”
He further wrote, “Even though this chapter of my international career ends here, my love for West Indies cricket will never fade. I wish the team and the entire region nothing but success and strength for the future.”
Pooran was at the peak of power-hitting in T20 cricket. Just last year, he hit a record 170 sixes in the format.
Recently, the 29-year-old had requested rest for the tours of England and Ireland. As a result, West Indies announced their squad without him. Pooran made his T20I debut in September 2016 and his ODI debut in February 2019. However, as West Indies failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, he hasn’t played any ODIs since.
