Pollard Urges Young Cricketers to Prepare Beyond Talent

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The Ministry of Sport's media monitor says Pollard emphasised discipline, preparation and sacrifice when speaking to young cricketers. This is a summary of reported advice, not an announcement of a new selection rule. The Express page could not be independently opened during this review.

Sources: Ministry of Sport media monitor, 21 Oct ↗ · Trinidad Express original report ↗

Cricket West Indies says its 2026 school-level Five for Fun programme includes Trinidad and Tobago, and its Rising Stars Under-15 and Under-19 competitions are intended to support talent identification and progression. Those programmes were announced independently of Pollard’s reported remarks; there is no evidence he was announcing or directing them.

Sources: Cricket West Indies, 2026 Five for Fun ↗ · Cricket West Indies, Rising Stars U15 ↗

Cricket West Indies announced in March that its 2026 Rising Stars Under-15 competition would use bilateral series, including matches for Trinidad and Tobago, with talent identification as the stated purpose. In April it renewed Five for Fun, a primary-school programme for ages 7–11 that includes Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Sport’s 21 October media monitor then summarised Kieron Pollard’s message to young players about discipline, preparation and sacrifice. These are three different kinds of evidence: an age-group competition plan, a school participation programme, and an attributed piece of player advice. They do not show that Pollard designed the programmes or that either programme changed because of his remarks. The useful follow-up is how many local participants get sustained coaching and progress from introductory play to age-group cricket.

Sources: Cricket West Indies, Rising Stars U15 ↗ · Cricket West Indies, 2026 Five for Fun ↗ · Ministry of Sport media monitor, 21 Oct ↗