Photo Credit: SA20 League
The evolution of T20 franchise cricket is intrinsically linked to Kieron Pollard, the big all-rounder from Trinidad and Tobago.
The term ‘legend’ is often loosely attributed in the sport’s modern era, but “Polly” is truly a T20 Legend.
His overall list of honours is almost too much to mention here with Pollard being a much-decorated serial winner.
However, the major gongs are double T20 World Cup titles with the West Indies in 2012 and 2016, while there are also five IPL championship rings with the Mumbai Indians that adorn the Pollard trophy cabinet.
Yet, even at 36 years old as Pollard is already transitioning into the next phase of his career as England’s assistant coach for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, he still has the hunger and desire to win more silverware on the playing field.
He showed that by leading MI New York to the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) title last year.
It is for this reason that new MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson, who oversaw MI New York’s success in Texas, rang up Pollard and convinced him into one last rodeo down at Newlands for Betway SA20 Season 2 (as a temporary replacement for Rashid Khan).
Pollard is also no stranger to Table Mountain where he previously spent two seasons at the Cape Cobras playing in the now-defunct Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
His easygoing Caribbean style quickly endeared him to the Cape Town locals and fast became a favourite son after leading the Cobras to the title in 2015.
With MI Cape Town enduring an indifferent maiden Betway SA20 Season last year, there will be plenty of responsibility on Pollard’s broad shoulders to turn around the fortunes.
It is nothing he has not experienced in 637 T20 matches.
Equally, his vast knowledge will only benefit MI Cape Town’s youngsters such as Dewald Brevis, Grant Roelofsen and Duan Jansen with both bat and ball.
Polly is back in town and is sure to shake up things at Newlands, which could just be the tonic MI Cape Town needs to flex their muscles.
Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
