Karachi Kings’ platinum player Kieron Pollard made headlines last week as he took a leave from ongoing PSL 9 to attend the lavish wedding festivities of Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s son.
Anant Ambani, the youngest scion of the Ambani dynasty, is set to tie the knot with Radhika Merchant in a grand celebration in Gujarat.
Pollard attended the pre-wedding gala hosted by the Ambani family, which also featured luminaries such as Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Rihanna, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, and almost all Bollywood stars.
Notably, Pollard is the batting coach of the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, owned by Mukesh Ambani and run by his wife Nita and son Aakash Ambani.
However, Pollard choosing to attend the wedding over PSL 9 raised concerns among the cricket fans in Pakistan, questioning the professional commitment of the player.
Leaving His Team In A Crucial Match
After suffering two consecutive defeats against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, Karachi Kings were eager to turn the tide in yesterday’s match against Multan Sultans.
However, their hopes were dashed before the match as they faced Multan Sultans without the firepower of Pollard on their side.
Pollard who was picked in the Platinum category and was instrumental in Karachi Kings’ two earlier victories prefers to leave his team ahead of a crucial game.
Karachi Kings, in his absence, succumbed to a 20-run loss, diminishing their chances for the playoff qualification.
The former West Indies captain is the leading run-scorer for the Kings this season, scoring 196 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 161.98.
He was granted a four-day leave by his team, which means he will be back for the next game, however, his team will now face an uphill task of winning all four games to earn a playoff spot.
Karachi Kings will face in-form Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi on March 6.
Pollard’s Decision Raises Question
Pollard’s decision to prioritize attending Ambani’s pre-wedding gala over PSL underscored the complexity of the choices athletes must make to balance their professional and personal commitments.
While Pollard’s decision to join the Ambani wedding gala may have been a personal milestone for him, its ramifications were keenly felt in the cricketing community.
His temporary departure from Karachi Kings not only disrupted the team’s dynamics but also raised questions about the league’s ability to retain its star players amidst competing global events.
PSL is arguably the second biggest franchise league in the cricket world after India’s IPL, however, it now faces the challenge of reaffirming its relevance as a cricketing spectacle which should be the first priority for any player.
The Reaction of Cricket Fans
Pollard’s departure from the ongoing PSL not only left Karachi Kings bereft of his talent but also disappointed cricket fans across Pakistan, particularly those rooting for his team.
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