Nicholas Pooran’s Shock Retirement Signals Deepening Crisis in West Indies cricket

Nicholas Pooran, at the age of 29, unexpectedly retired from international cricket, highlighting problems within the West Indies cricket team.

Nicholas Pooran’s Shock Retirement Signals Deepening Crisis in West Indies cricket

Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29. (Image via ESPNCricinfo)

Ex-West Indies skipper and wicket-keeper batter Nicholas Pooran surprisingly announced his retirement on June 10 from international cricket just at the age of 29. He joined the list of high-profile players who announced their retirement, across different formats over the last 30 days. 

Nicholas Pooran conveyed his choice to step down from the West Indies cricket team through a social media message. While being grateful for having received the privilege of representing the West Indies cricket team, Pooran appreciated fans for their steadfast affection and encouragement. He further added that he continues to love Caribbean cricket, as well as the region, and hoped for its prosperity.

Pooran had made his international debut in 2016, after coming off the back of a few impressive domestic seasons with Trinidad and Tobago, and impressive performances in the Caribbean Premier League as well. He debuted against Pakistan in a T20I series in the UAE and scored an unbeaten 53 runs off just 24 balls in the third match to claim his maiden half-century in international cricket.

While having never represented West Indies in the Test cricket, Pooran did make his ODI debut three years later, in 2019, in a series against England. He immediately rose to fame over the next few years for his hitting abilities. He was named as the captain of West Indies cricket team for the limited overs format in 2022, but had to step down after a disastrous T20 World Cup campaign in Australia that year.

He last played for the team in December 2024, in a home T20I series against Bangladesh, but even opted out of the West Indies’ ongoing tour to England, citing personal reasons. What makes Pooran’s call to retire more shocking is his relatively young age. At 29, he has played a total of 106 T20Is, and is West Indies’ all-time highest run-getter in the format, with 2,275 runs, including 13 half-centuries.

Many speculate that his retirement from international cricket is aimed at prioritizing his league career. Pooran’s decision highlights the influence of T20 franchise leagues, which, due to their popularity and financial power, are increasingly attracting talented players away from international cricket. Pooran’s decision also underscores a growing disconnect between players and the West Indies Cricket Board.

West Indies cricket has faced a turbulent period over the past decade, and has a checkered past of its own. Established and promising players have at time opted to leave the national team due to a lack of support and mismanagement by the board, choosing lucrative T20 leagues for better pay and respect. This exodus included prominent figures such as Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy, and Chris Gayle.

Thereafter, it also threatens the overall development and performance of the West Indies cricket team, which has an impressive five major ICC trophies to its name. Meanwhile, Pooran joins another hard-hitting wicket-keeper batter, South African Heinrich Klaasen, to retire this week. 

West Indies wicket-keeper batter Nicholas Pooran’s cricketing career over the years 

Former West Indies white-ball skipper Nicholas Pooran shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket. He ended his career, leaving behind a ‘Maroon’ legacy of being the country’s most-capped player in T20 Internationals. 

Nicholas Pooran T20 career
Nicholas Pooran has enjoyed a brilliant T20 career, playing for West Indies and several franchises across the world. (Image via Hindustan Times)

Pooran’s first major claim to fame was at the age of 16, when he became the youngest player to feature in a CPL match. He then progressed through the under-19 ranks, eventually making it the West Indies national team in 2016. From that point, he established himself on the international stage, particularly excelling in the shortest format of the game.

Notably, Pooran is ranked 26th for most career runs in T20s, with 9,166 runs at an average of 29.47 and a strike rate of 150.53. He last played in the IPL this year, for Lucknow Super Giants, ending the season with 524 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 43.67 and brilliant strike rate of 196.25.