[UPDATED] Pollard: I gave my heart and soul to West Indies

WEST INDIES T20 and ODI captain Kieron Pollard has retired from international cricket.

Pollard, 34, announced the decision in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

He said, “After careful deliberation, I have today decided to retire from international cricket.

“As is the case for many young persons, it was a dream of mine to represent the West Indies team from the time I was a boy of ten years and I am proud to have represented West Indies cricket for over 15 years in both the T20 and ODI forms of the game.

“I can still vividly remember making my international debut in 2007 under the leadership of my childhood hero, Brian Lara. Wearing those maroon colours and playing alongside such greats has been a privilege that I never took lightly, giving my heart and soul in every facet of the game ­– whether bowling, batting or fielding.

Pollard’s tenure as West Indies captain lasted three years and much was expected of him.

He had assumed leadership of an ODI team that had not won a series in five years.

“As captain I believe that I have led with passion, openness, courage and everything I could ever possibly give both on and off the field without ever compromising my principles and integrity. I know some of my teammates believe that I am a hard taskmaster and I like to see things done professionally, and that is true, but I also believe in being selfless and creating the environment for individuals and teams to succeed.”

Pollard enjoyed mixed results in his tenure with the ODI team showing signs of improvement. However, he was heavily criticised after a disastrous T20 World Cup campaign last year which saw the regional team win just one match and fail to make it out of the group phase.

For the past year, Pollard has been plagued by injury, which may have been a blessing in disguise as it allowed vice captain Nicholas Pooran valuable experience leading the regional side against top international teams. With the T20 World Cup set to bowl off in just six months, Pollard’s sudden resignation creates a leadership void which the Cricket West Indies (CWI) will need to fill quickly.

“As I move on and make room for those who will carry the game forward in West Indian colours, know that I will always be supporting in whatever way I can. It is with profound gratitude for living my dream that I now raise my bat in salute to all that is West Indies cricket.”

Pollard, a family man, also hinted at the sacrifices the game requires.

“Being away from home and family has never been easy, but I can say that I have always had the solid support of my family. My stepfather, mother, sister and other members of my family have stood by me and encouraged me over the years and most certainly helped to mould me into the person I am today while playing this beautiful game that I love.

“However, words cannot do justice to the unconditional love, and understanding of my dear wife Jenna and our three children. I have been blessed to have them in my life. They provided the motivation for me to work even harder and to try to be the kind of person of whom they could be proud. I am looking forward to seeing more of my family and enjoying quality time with them as I bid farewell to this chapter of my life and move on to the next.”

The veteran all-rounder is currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Mumbai Indians who are currently struggling without a win after six matches.

This story was originally published with the title "West Indies captain Pollard retires from international cricket" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

West Indies T20 and ODI captain Kieron Pollard has retired from international cricket.

Pollard, 34, announced the decision in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

He said, "After careful deliberation, I have today decided to retire from international cricket.

"As is the case for many young persons, it was a dream of mine to represent the West Indies team from the time I was a boy of ten years and I am proud to have represented West Indies cricket for over 15 years in both the T20 and ODI forms of the game."

Pollard's tenure as West Indies captain lasted three years and has enjoyed mixed results.

"As I move on and make room for those who will carry the game forward in West Indian colours, know that I will always be supporting in whatever way I can. It is with profound gratitude for living my dream that I now raise my bat in salute to all that is West Indies cricket."

The veteran all-rounder is currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Mumbai Indians who are currently struggling without a win after six matches.