WHILE fans in the Caribbean continue to hope for Nicholas Pooran’s return to the West Indies, the Trinidadian says he remains at peace with his decision to retire as he focuses on building a successful career in franchise cricket.

Pooran, who made his Windies debut in 2016, shockingly announced his retirement from international cricket last June at age 29. The former Windies captain, who played close to 170 games in white-ball cricket, walked away as the team’s leading run scorer in T20 Internationals with 2,275.

With the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup beginning next month in India and Sri Lanka, there has been a feeling that Pooran could perform a U-turn and make himself available for selection.

However Pooran says he’s comfortable with his current status, and denies any fallout with the team or Cricket West Indies (CWI).

“From all my trials and tribulations I’ve worked so hard and I feel like I think through all the decisions I make because I understand it has consequences, I understand that people are going to be angry and disappointed in any decision anybody makes,” he said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.

“This has nothing to do with West Indies cricket, how it is, what it is, what’s happening — this has nothing to do with that. This is all about what Nicolas Pooran wants, and this is something everyone has to come on board with as well. I know I would have disappointed people, and that’s also fine and not fine in some cases. But people have to really support my decision as well because I’m doing what’s best for myself and for my family.”

Pooran, whose last appearance came in December 2024, believes he did all he could for the West Indies during his eight years of service.

“If I played five games for West Indies or five years and I [wasn’t] committed I would have said, ‘Okay fine, it’s cool.’ But I was committed. I’ve tried to give my all for West Indies,” he said.

“I was West Indies captain as well [but] I felt like that didn’t work out for me, and for my game, and for the teammates and stuff. I give that up after six months [because] I’m not searching power; all I was searching [for] is how do I become a better version of myself — and that doesn’t mean I need to have power. And I just felt like I just want to continue to do what’s best for myself and for my family.”

Pooran has continued to play in lucrative franchise leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League.

Despite criticism over his choice, the 30-year-old believes it’s the right one.

“I’ve worked extremely hard to be in this position I am in today, and there’s not much cricketers who can be in the situation that I’m in. I came from nothing — and if you know where Trinidad and Tobago is, it’s a dot on the world. I feel like it’s so difficult for us to be successful from there,” he said. So when I look back at, not only my career but all the other guys and everybody [like] Poly [Kieron Pollard] for what they have accomplished in this game, for me personally I will never take it for granted, knowing where we come from and the opportunities we had.

“I’m still getting the opportunity to play cricket all over the world and do what I love, and I’m still getting that chance to be the best version of myself. I still feel I haven’t reached that stage where I’m the best version of myself yet so I’m still going through that journey of becoming better as a cricketer and as a human being as well. I feel like I can reach that stage by, obviously, travelling a bit more, socialising with different people — and that’s just my journey.”

He added, “What people want is that they want [players] to retire at 35, 36 — [after] they’ve represented their country and committed 100 per cent — then go and play leagues and make money. But when you reach that age now your value goes down, right?”

“I’m sure people are criticising me now, [saying]: ‘He’s probably going to play for money,’ but I’m actually in my prime career [period]. I have a lot to offer; I’m going to score runs, I’m going to win games, I’m going to win titles.”

Nicholas Pooran (left) of West Indies is bowled by Mahedi Hasan (out of picture) of Bangladesh as wicketkeeper Litton Das reacts during the third and final Twenty20 International at Arnos Vale Ground in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on December 19, 2024.