ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 16, 2022

Nicholas Pooran

Bellerive Oval

West Indies

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. I just want to ask you, we didn't really get the news in terms of the makeup for this opening game. What's the balance going to be like?

NICHOLAS POORAN: Yeah, we obviously have to select the team still. It's quite early here in Australia. We haven't sat down and discussed who's playing tomorrow. The makeup of the team obviously varies due to the conditions here obviously, here in Hobart which has been cold for a while now, we have to go back and look at it.

Q. How are you finding Hobart so far? I know conditions are a bit different to what you get back home.

NICHOLAS POORAN: Yeah, it's beautiful here. Only thing is that the sun is hiding.

Q. Obviously first game against Scotland tomorrow; how are you shaping up against the Scottish guys? No doubt they present a big challenge?

NICHOLAS POORAN: Yeah, it'll be a challenge. But our guys are confident. We've been here for over two weeks now. I think the guys are ready to go and acclimatizing to these conditions. A lot of these guys haven't played in Australia. This will be the first time, but the guys are confident, they're happy. The preparation has been really good, and we just can't wait for tomorrow to start our game.

Q. Let's talk about your personal form. You had some good hits there in the first practice match against UAE. How are you feeling?

NICHOLAS POORAN: I am feeling good. Obviously the performance and the results, my performances haven't shown in the last couple of games, in the first two games in this series I got frustrated, but that's fine. I haven't batted much balls. It's just for me to bat balls, I've been playing really well. I'm feeling good as a batsman. I'm striking the ball pretty well, as well. So just looking forward to starting tomorrow and we'll start from there.

Q. Yourself and Jason Holder have previous experience in Australia. How crucial will that be for the World Cup?

NICHOLAS POORAN: It's definitely important not only for us but for the team. Obviously being here it's different conditions, as well, and Jason and myself, we need to step up big for the team this year.

Q. I want to ask that in a T20 World Cup, in a T20 game itself, the pressure is on the players, like it's a big title in the T20 format. How much is the importance of the big names in the sport like when last time West Indies won the World Cup they have so many big names in their sport, and this time also most of the teams playing in this World Cup are having the young players, young blood into the sport. How much is the importance of having big names or the young players can make an impact in the upcoming Australian T20 World Cup?

NICHOLAS POORAN: I think it should be a balance with experience and younger players. If you look at it, there were a lot of big names when we won those two World Cups, but we also had a lot of big names in the last year's World Cup, as well, and we didn't qualify.

To answer that question, it plays a part. I think not only the big names but experienced players, and it is not about any particular players, but it is about our team performance. Obviously Australia won last year and they didn't have too many big names, but they obviously had a team and that was proven that that was enough for them to win the World Cup.

So coming back to us, we don't have the big names, but we have formed a team here, and that's been really important. Once the guys play for each other and stay together, it'll be fine.

Q. Obviously the West Indies have won the tournament twice now. What would it mean to win it a third time and take the trophy back home to the Caribbean?

NICHOLAS POORAN: Yeah, it would definitely be something special. Obviously for this group here, it's a new group, new faces, a lot of younger players in the team. For us to obviously win this World Cup, it would be our biggest achievement as individuals.

We are underdogs in this tournament as much as we have won the tournament twice, and a lot of people, a lot of media you see, a lot of people don't think we can even qualify, as well. So it will mean a lot for us. We spoke about sticking this time together. Whether we win or lose we're going to stick together as a group, so winning this tournament, yeah, obviously we need to work really hard, but it would mean the world to us.