West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket through an Instagram post today, June 10. The 29-year-old said it was a difficult decision to step away, but one he felt was necessary at this stage of his career.
In his retirement post, Pooran expressed deep gratitude and love for West Indies cricket, saying that his passion for representing the Caribbean will never fade, even though his playing days at the international level have come to an end.
Taking to Instagram about his decision, Pooran said, “After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international Cricket.”
“This game we love has given and will continue to give so much joy, purpose, 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. To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart,” an emotional Pooran further added.
He also shared a note for his fans and thanked them for their “unwavering love”.
“You lifted me in the tough moments and celebrated the good ones with unmatched passion,” he further said.
Pooran, who is the most capped West Indian of all time in T20Is, also expressed, “To my family, friends, and teammates – thank you for walking this journey with me. Your belief and support carried me through it all.”
Towards the end of his retirement post, he said, “Though this international chapter of my career closes, my love for West Indies Cricket will never fade. I wish the team and the region nothing but success and strength for the road ahead,” before signing off with “With all my heart, Nicky P”.
Pooran’s retirement comes days after South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen quit international cricket.
The cricketer played 106 matches and scored 2,275 runs, by far the highest by any West Indian in the format. In One Day Internationals, he played 61 matches and scored 1,983 runs. Pooran never played Test cricket. He played his last ODI against Sri Lanka in 2023 in Harare, and his final T20I came against Bangladesh later that year in Kingstown.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) said that Pooran had requested to skip both the current England series and the upcoming Ireland series due to his participation in the IPL. He played for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and scored 524 runs in 14 matches.