West Indies to continue taking knee during World T20, skipper Kieron Pollard confirms

West Indies players and support staff will continue to take knees during the upcoming T20 World Cup in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and campaign against racism, skipper Kieron Pollard confirmed in his first virtual conference before the T20 World Cup.

Pollard said that the team strongly believe in the purpose and those are “close to our hearts”.

"From my knowledge at this present time, I think it's something we're going to continue because it's something that we strongly believe in, as a team," Pollard said. "Hopefully we can just continue to show our support for something that I think is close to our hearts."

The gesture of taking a knee started last year when West Indies toured England in the leadership of Jason Holder. Then, England too took part in the gesture but later on dropped it in the recent summer against India and New Zealand.

Other sides such as Australia have taken a knee when they toured West Indies earlier this year but those gestures go missing in other series.

Pollard said that he doesn’t want to see the oppositions making these gestures in the games against West Indies as a sign of supporting their cause and instead it should come from within them.

"Everyone has their own opinions on racism and Black Lives Matter and all these things," Pollard said, asked if he would encourage England to take a knee alongside West Indies. "So, I can't tell them what to do or expect anything, because sometimes when you expect things from people, you tend to get disappointed.

"Again, sometimes, you just have to look at the man in the mirror, and if we think it is something that is very, very important to us, we will do it. And if the opposition thinks that as well, it's up to them. If they don't, [it's a matter of] personal choices."

Pollard will lead a strong West Indies side in the T20 World Cup where he will be vying to continue the team’s dominance in the format and the tournament. Windies are the only side to win the T20 world cup tournament twice and Pollard would be eager to stamp his authority on the side with another title to his and his side’s name.