“Don’t be too hard on us”

-Pooran says of young WI team
– says Shepherd is a special player

By Brandon Corlette

The Nicholas Pooran-led West Indies T20 team will wrap up the T20 International series against Pakistan today (Thursday, December 16) when first ball bowls off at 9:00h Eastern Caribbean time.

Pooran has spoken about the young team, and about the quality of Brandon King and Romario Shepherd, who both did well with the bat in the nine-run defeat on Tuesday.
While he noted that the team is improving and learning on the job, Pooran has said his unit is focused on winning.
Asked about mistakes made in the series thus far, Pooran replied: “If we knew why we make mistakes, we would be the best team in the world. It’s cricket, and I can only talk for this bunch of guys here. It is quite a very inexperienced group in terms of T20 cricket, but that is no excuse. We are learning on the job, so don’t be too hard on us.”
Pooran has admitted that he made a silly mistake in the shot selection that cost him his wicket. The left-hander also said the team did well to stay in the game against a highly-ranked Pakistan outfit, even to the point of having a chance to win at the end.

Sharing his sentiments on Brandon King’s half-century, Pooran said: “Brandon is someone of high quality. He has been inconsistent at times, but he is trying to find his feet. He is super talented, and I am very happy in the way he batted, he showed his class. The way he batted was commendable, and it is a good innings, especially against Pakistan in their own backyard.”

Pooran proud of Shepherd
From the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to the Abu Dhabi T10 League, Romario Shepherd has been a revelation in 2021, and has been improving game by game.
The Guyanese, who was the leading wicket-taker in the CPL and showed his all-round exploits, has been a shining light for the West Indies T20 team in Pakistan.
Captain Pooran is very proud of his teammate, whom he describes as a hard-worker, a man with a big heart, and a special player.
“He is a special player. He has a lot of heart, and he does exactly what the team requires. That is the type of player we need. Every game he turns up, if it is not with bat, it’s with ball, or in the field. Sky is the limit for him. What we are seeing on the cricket field right now is special for a player to come out and give us a chance every single game with that die-hard spirit. I am very proud of him, I have played with him at Guyana in the CPL, and I know how hard he has been working. He is a very hard worker, and I urge him to set the bar for himself,”Pooran said.
With the next T20 World Cup set for Australia next year, Pooran has said he is happy with the youngsters who are putting their hands up for selection.