The pressure is on for four-time Republic Bank Limited Caribbean Premier League T20 winners Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to notch a historic fifth crown.
Despite the franchise boasting the tournament’s most title wins, TKR’s star-studded line-up is under the gun from its die-hard fans for the 2023 edition.
So said recently retained TKR players Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hosein, who both agree that while they are favourites to lift the trophy on paper, expectations, particularly from their fans, are high.
At last year’s edition, a talent-ridden TKR failed to make the CPLT20 playoffs although they boasted the likes of talismanic T20 players such as skipper Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jayden Seales, Pooran and Hosein; all of whom were retained on Friday.
Additionally, TKR have once again secured the services of their relentless former captain Dwayne Bravo, who returned for 2023 after a two-year stint at St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, where he lifted the title in 2021.
Bravo, however, is the most successful CPLT20 player, having won the trophy five times, four with TKR and with the Patriots, two years ago.
Joining the skillful set-up of cricketers is former West Indies head coach Phil Simmons, while all-rounder Mark Deyal returns from St Lucia Kings to bolster the attack. He was swapped with TKR’s Khary Pierre, now a Kings player.
Speaking at Saturday’s Nicky P. Batting Clinic at Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy in Point Lisas, Pooran said this year’s edition is all business for the Knight Riders.
“We have to win. There’s no laughing, no smiling, none. It’s all about winning the CPLT20 this year. We have the best superstars in the world when it comes to T20 cricket and we faced embarrassment last year.
“We want to win the cup this year. There’s no secret about it and we need to put in the hard work both on and off the field, and find a way to win.”
When asked if these high expectations could be delivered on the field considering their shabby 2022 season, Pooran said while the team’s player strengths bring veracity to their attack, coming with it, is added pressure to win.
“We are professionals. The guys have played more than 500 T20s. It’s not like these guys have not played under pressure. We play in front of 120,000 people in the IPL, Big Bash, whatever tournaments.
“So we as cricketers, the pressure is never off, it’s always there. We have self-pride and we always want to perform. The pressure is on.
“A lot of the players know how to deal with that pressure and this year, it’s not going to be any different. We know we need to come trumps and it’s as simple as that.”
A CPLT20 statement on Friday saw newly appointed TKR coach Simmons hail his artillery of players.
“We are very happy to be able to retain most of the Caribbean players from last year’s TKR squad. The experience of Pollard, Narine, Russell, and Pooran, coupled with Bravo’s return gives our squad a very strong core. In youngsters like Hosein, Seales, and Deyal, we have some of the best young talent from Trinidad re
