Exciting West Indies Twenty20 batsman Nicholas Pooran has been slapped with a suspension by the West Indies Cricket Board, after snubbing his Leeward Islands Hurricanes contract for the upcoming Professional Cricket League.
The 21-year-old, who made his international in the recent series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, opted out of his PCL contract in order to represent Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League.
However, WICB chief executive, Michael Muirhead said Pooran’s decision would result in a suspension from WICB-sponsored tournaments for an unspecified period.
“Nicholas Pooran has decided not to play for the franchise that he was selected for. All persons who are entering the [PCL] draft, sign that they will make themselves available and commit themselves to playing for whoever they are drafted by,” Muirhead was quoted as saying.
“If you fail to honour that then there are consequences. The consequence is actually is that he won’t be able, for a specific period, play for WICB sponsored tournaments.”
Pooran was selected for West Indies duty for the three T20s against Pakistan after impressing for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League last summer.
However, the aggressive left-hander has not played a first class game in two years and a regional 50-overs game in three years.
He was kept out of the game for a year back in 2015 when he suffered injuries in a vehicular accident, and only returned to action earlier this year.
Muirhead said while Pooran’s suspension would not making him ineligible for selection to the regional side, it would certainly hurt the player’s chances.
“It does not mean he cannot play in a West Indies team if he is selected but it might lessen his chances of selection by not playing in our tournaments, but it still means that he could be selected if the selectors see it fit to choose him,” the Jamaican noted.
The regional first class season bowls off next weekend with Hurricanes hosting Barbados Pride at Warner Park in St Kitts. (CMC)