May be pressures have caught up to Pollard: Graeme Smith

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said that was surprised by Kieron Pollard's decision to retire from international cricket, but felt the West Indies allrounder can focus on his franchise league career, free from international pressures.

Pollard, 34, took to social media to announce his decision which came as a surprise to many considering he was West Indies' limited-overs captain and the 2022 T20 World Cup on the horizon.

"I expected him to retire after the T20 World Cup. It's very surprising," Smith told Cricket.com.

"May be realized it's a step too far for him and relinquished international pressure to focus on IPL and other leagues," he added.

Pollard, who made his debut against South Africa in the 2007 T20 World Cup, led West Indies in 39 T20Is and 24 ODIs. The allrounder scored 4,275 international runs and claimed 97 wickets across the formats. Smith felt the pressures of playing in bubbles for a long period of time might've contributed to Pollard's decision.

"May be the pressures have caught up to Kieron. He had an incredible T20 career and we need to congratulate him for it and wish him well in to his future," Smith said.

"What people don't talk about is the bubble life. It takes a toll on players after being locked up in their hotel rooms for months on end and sometimes you have a mental breakdown. As we move on from COVID and learn to deal with it, it will be easier for players to deal with the international game," he said.

Pollard's sudden decision will leave Windies selectors with a tough choice to pick a captain ahead of the T20 World Cup. Smith felt it is difficult to pick out Pollard's successor.

"I know Jason Holder has been the captain, but they'll look for someone who can lead them into the future," he said.