(CMC) – Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard will lead MI Cape Town in the SA20 starting Wednesday, while counterpart Nicholas Pooran has been appointed captain of MI Emirates in the ILT20 in his absence.
The 36-year-old Pollard has been expected to feature for MI Emirates in the ILT20, which kicks off on January 19, but will now replace leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who had been installed as captain of MI Cape Town but is still recovering from back surgery.
Pollard will be playing in the SA20 for the first time and will lead a side that includes South African speedster Kagiso Rabada, along with the English duo of Olly Stone and Liam Livingstone.
MI Cape Town is one of six franchises participating in the SA20, along with Durban Super Giants, Joburg Super Kings, Paarl Royals, Pretoria Capitals, and reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
In the tournament’s inaugural season last year, Eastern Cape defeated the Capitals by four wickets in a low-scoring final at the Wanderers.
Several West Indies players are expected to turn out in the tournament, with the likes of Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, and Obed McCoy all set to feature.
Pooran, also a former West Indies captain, was snapped up by the Super Giants but is likely to play only a handful of matches before he heads for the ILT20 in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi.
