The T20 leagues are lucrative and enable a reasonably large number of players to earn a decent living playing the game they love and are good at. But it all comes at a cost, a cost that the less wealthy cricketing nations like the West Indies have been paying.

The latest installment of that payment has come in the form of the retirement from international cricket of Nicholas Pooran. The left-hander issued a statement telling of his gratitude for having represented the people of the Caribbean: “After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international cricket,” Pooran wrote.

“This game we love has given and will continue to give me so much joy, purpose and unforgettable memories and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies. Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field...it’s hard to put into words what that truly means to me.”

The Trinidadian is 30 and was the West Indies’ best T20 batter, one of the best in the world. He hasn’t been at his best recently but in last season’s IPL he slammed 524 runs at an average of 43.66 and an almost unbelievable strike rate of 196.25. He is the most prolific six-hitter in the game and has hit the most in the game since 2024. 

[url=https://www.cricketfj.com/p/why-nicholas-poorans-retirement-should]Full Story[

@spider

I remember what 10/15 years ago when Chris Gayle arrived late to England for the test series and he was the captain at the time I believe. He came in the day before the test match because he wanted to finish his T20 game in South Africa. Asked about it he said he wouldn’t be too sad if test Cricket died out.

@CricSham

there is a story behind that...and actually it goes back to why the best players IN the West Indies do not want to play FOR the west indies. 3-4 weeks before that series, chris gayle, as captain of the WI led the team to the first wisden trophy win in eleven years vs the english. The west indies cricket board made a return series after that series in england, less than two months after we won it. This series was not on the Future Tours Program and Sri lanka had been carded to visit england for a three match test series that year. The sri lankans told the ECB that most of their players would be in the IPL during this period and we can't send a proper team because 5-6 of the starting xi were expected to secure ipl deals. The english said ok, we'll find somebody else. our board decided to step in. , I am not sure the players knew about the negotiations and the choice of the WICB to act as replacements. I know for sure that they did not know the wisden trophy would be up for grabs. In fact tony cozier interviewing julian hunte, then WICB president said that a wisden trophy contest was not discussed. Donald Peters told Cozier that the trophy would be up for grabs and a few days later tendered in his resignation. Hunte was adamant the wisden trophy issue was not discussed. the biggest problem with the West indies is that when you have people who do not understand the scope of a professional sporting environment, in places they have no right being, not because of geography but because of competence, you have incidents like this.

@Jumpstart

Well my great Lara went to tours late because of carnival.

I am one or Lara's biggest fans.

Why pick on Gayle when Lara and other did stupidness as well.

People need to leave Pooran alone.

He made a decision to take care of his family financially.

Many here (including me) forsake our homeland in search of big bucks.

Royal Barbados Police Force (now Barbados Police Service) trained me.

After 3 1/2 years, I left them for Bermuda for bigger bucks.

Why criticize Pooran.

Pooran I love you and I am proud of you.

I hope you regain form soon and make big runs.

@TanteMerle

i totally supported Gayle and pooran in that matter. CWI is broke and has always been cash strapped. At the same time it has always been an autocratic mess. You can’t pay the players what they’re being paid by persons richer than you, then here’s what, the board should understand the table is bigger than you now and exercise some humility. Is Peters and hunte I was referring to in the final part of my post

@Jumpstart

The more you post, the more you become 'Not Dinas'.

@TanteMerle

so i guess ,Hetty,Rutherford, Holder ,Powell an Shep are neglecting their family by representing Windies AN STILL playing in the franchise leagues around the world...gimme a f**king break!!!!!😎

@CCW

Big difference is that there is an official IPL window provided by the ICC. It has been this way since 2020. That means international cricket among the vast majority of full members is suspended during the period of the tournament. The tournament did not have a window in 2009 and English cricket maintained a stance that oscillated between deep suspicion to almost open hostility. Well that changed around 2016 when England reached the WT20 final

@tc1

You just have to tip your hat to Jumpy.

For a post graduate student (of I forget what) he certainly exhibits deep knowledge of the 'culture' of West Indies Cricket, especially where individual players of a certain era are concerned.

Keep it going Jumpy!

@Jumpstart

💯👍🏿

@Drapsey

Jumpy said he has a business degree but is now pursuing a degree in CE. He posts like he has superior knowledge of what happened in some periods of WI cricket.

@tc1

i only post what is already known in the public. No special skill. Just like when Beckles released his book blaming the IMF for the decline in what I would call West Indian cricketing civics. Specifically he mentioned the 1998 saga in SA. Nobody who covered the book mentioned that the West Indies had their touring fee cut from the amount it was during the tour of Australia the previous year(96/97).

Part of the board’s problem is since WI cricketers have started to make real money, starting with the Packer era through Lara down to Gayle and co, they’ve never understood that the players are the attraction. The South Africa broadcasters, for example were going to pull out of that same 98 series if Lara had been sacked and not toured.

@Jumpstart

I have no issues with Gayle’s decision or Pooran’s. I’m pointing out that T20 gave players an option to make a better living. That said Gayle’s comment that he would not be too sad if test Cricket were to die had less to do with WICB’s agreement to.play the series but rather with his true feelings that T20 was his priority. Similarly with the Kerry Packer players. They have to look out for number one and all this talk about loyalty and patriotism is just pie in the sky. Just my two cents.

@CCW

so i guess ,Hetty,Rutherford, Holder ,Powell an Shep are neglecting their family by representing Windies AN STILL playing in the franchise leagues around the world...gimme a f**king break!!!!!

Does Hetty et al (the names you mentioned) have contracts that involves ownership shares, Numerous endorsements, Training and other mentorship deals.

If you are not aware of Pooran's full contract(s) please withhold commenting.

You need the whole picture.

Let me reiterate, Pooran is seeking to take care of his family financially with the skillssets, and

career aspirations the best way he knows how.

He would be stupid to let that go to play for Windies.

Pooran made the best decision, as he is no longer tied up by CWI joke administrators.

Actually when he has reached 2 years retirement, he would be completely rid of them.

,

@CricSham

That said Gayle’s comment that he would not be too sad if test Cricket were to die had less to do with WICB’s agreement to.play the series but rather with his true feelings that T20 was his priority. Similarly with the Kerry Packer players. They have to look out for number one and all this talk about loyalty and patriotism is just pie in the sky. Just my two cents

same with the South African rebels then?