WI approach Nicholas Pooran for T20 World Cup return, but batter sticks to retirement call

Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently reached out to former captain Nicholas Pooran to explore the possibility of reversing his international retirement ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. However, despite the board’s efforts, Pooran has made it clear that he intends to stand by his decision to remain retired from international cricket.

Pooran, 29, announced his retirement in June last year, a move that surprised many given his prime age and strong performances in global T20 leagues. While he has continued to feature in franchise cricket around the world, a return to the West Indies setup now appears unlikely.

CWI confirms talks with Pooran

Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe confirmed that the board had held discussions with Pooran, fully aware that the upcoming World Cup was a major consideration.

“We have made every effort to ensure the best players are available to represent the West Indies,” Bascombe told WESN TV. “Pooran was aware the World Cup was coming, and his decision to retire would have been taken with that knowledge.”

Bascombe added that while conversations were held, Pooran recently reiterated that he is comfortable with his choice to step away from international cricket.

“We probed, and he has mentioned not too long ago that he’s quite happy to stick with his decision,” he said.

Board also explored roles for Bravo, Pollard, Russell

In addition to player availability, CWI also reached out to West Indies stalwarts Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Russell to assess whether they could be involved in the team’s management setup for the World Cup.

However, scheduling challenges proved to be a major obstacle.

“The World Cup flows almost directly into the IPL,” Bascombe explained. “Anyone joining the management group would have to sacrifice a significant amount of personal time, spending weeks away from home.”

The tight international and franchise calendar ultimately made it difficult for the former stars to commit to extended roles.

What lies ahead for West Indies

With Pooran firm on his retirement and senior legends unavailable for management positions, West Indies will head into the T20 World Cup relying on their current squad and coaching staff. The board is expected to announce the final squad after the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan later this month.

While fans may be disappointed by Pooran’s absence, CWI appears focused on moving forward with long-term planning and stability as they prepare for the global tournament.