ST JOHN’S, Antigua — President of Cricket West Indies, Dr. Kishore Shallow, has expressed a passionate hope that among the Caribbean’s brightest white-ball abilities—chief amongst them Nicholas Pooran—will quickly don the maroon cap in Take a look at cricket.
In a candid interview aired Thursday on WESN TV, Dr. Shallow mirrored on the potential resurgence of the West Indies Take a look at group, languishing at eighth within the ICC rankings, and emphasised the important function that multi-format stars like Pooran and Shai Hope might play in reviving regional red-ball fortunes.
“I’d like to see Nicky P taking part in Take a look at cricket,” Shallow declared. “I believe he has the potential and skillset to make an actual distinction.”
Pooran’s T20 reign units the stage
Pooran’s credentials communicate for themselves. The 29-year-old Trinidadian left-hander was not too long ago topped Wisden’s Main T20 Cricketer within the World for 2024, following a record-breaking marketing campaign that noticed him hammer 2,331 T20 runs at a median of 40—a feat no different participant managed that season.
Much more astonishing was his demolition of boundaries: 139 sixes, surpassing the long-standing mark of 135 set by legendary compatriot Chris Gayle in 2015.
– Commercial –
But, regardless of his dominance within the shortest format, Pooran has largely stayed away from the Take a look at area, a call Shallow hopes will change.
“A superb first step” – ODI comeback hopes
“I’m very hopeful that ultimately Nicky P shall be again within the One Day Worldwide setup as effectively,” Shallow famous. “That might be a superb first step, after which the likes of Shai Hope and the others.”
Hope, who presently captains the ODI facet, has additionally proven glimpses of Take a look at high quality, and Shallow believes these multi-format gamers can anchor a stronger, deeper expertise pool—one that would elevate West Indies cricket again to worldwide competitiveness.
Constructing depth by dialogue
Based on Shallow, head coach Daren Sammy has initiated early discussions with high gamers, advocating for long-term planning and clearer commitments round participant availability.
“I believe they’ve all mentioned to Daren Sammy that they wish to play Take a look at cricket,” mentioned Shallow. “Hopefully, we might see our expertise pool develop on account of that and it’ll have higher depth by way of our gamers to select from.”
He emphasised that inconsistent participant availability has lengthy hampered West Indies’ skill to climb the Take a look at rankings—a niche Sammy is decided to shut by strategic engagement.
With expertise like Pooran blazing trails in T20 leagues worldwide, Shallow’s attraction is as a lot about rekindling nationwide delight as it’s about technique. The return of elite white-ball gamers to the standard format wouldn’t solely enhance efficiency—it might reignite perception within the area’s Take a look at future.
