Waqar Younis slams Kieron Pollard for poor performance on the tour

Former Pakistani fast bowler and coach Waqar Younis has called on Kieron Pollard for his under-par performances in the ongoing ODI series and recently concluded T20Is against Pakistan in UAE. Pollard’s circumspect approach was questioned by many when he came into bat during the pursuit of a daunting 338-run target in the 38th over of the innings with the asking rate well over 11 runs per over.

Pollard labored along till the 47th over, mustering a mere 22 runs from 29 balls, with the game well out of bounds for the battered West Indies side. Younis has been critical of Pollard for this passive approach, who”did not even try” as West Indies hopelessly capitulated by 59 runs at Sharjah. The hard hitting all rounder displayed little intent or belligerent stroke play which“destroyed the morale of the team.”

“The way he batted – he went in with 11 an over or about 12 an over required and he is known for this sort of situation. And he just went in and he hit one boundary and batted the entire time and not going anywhere,” claimed an unimpressed WaqarYounis. “He wasn’t there, he was not in the middle so I feel he needs a break. Whoever you want to bring in, Pollard needs a break. That’s how I feel.”

The all-rounder has done little to stake a place in the West Indies side, that has had a miserable tour in which they having lost all 5 matches they have played. His batting, as well as bowling, have proved ineffective during all the of the matches in which he featured.

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Pollard aggregated 43 runs in the T20Is with a strike rate of just about 100. The ODIs have been just as fruitless, as the all-rounder hasn’t managed to pick up a wicket in 2 ODIS at the cost of 77 runs at more than 8 per over. He has a lowly aggregate of 31 runs from the two innings at an uncharacteristic strike rate of 80.

Younis heavily criticized the limited-overs regular. Former West Indies batsman Vivian Richards, also a television analyst for the series agreed changes were necessary for the final One-Day, with Pollard perhaps sitting out and left-hander Jonathan Carter coming in.

With the 3rd ODI scheduled to be played tomorrow, the West Indies selectors have a lot of tough decisions to make, with the possible inclusion of Shannon Gabriel too.

It will be interesting to see if Pollard is given another chance, given that he recently forced a comeback in the team after being ousted for more than a year. He will be hoping to prove his critics wrong and reestablish himself once again in the limited-over set up.

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Written by Yash Gupta