T20 World Cup 2024: Assistant Coach Kieron Pollard Links Up With England Squad For First Session

West Indies legend Kieron Pollard linked up with the England camp for his first session on Sunday (June 2) ahead of the defending champions' T20 World Cup 2024 campaign opener against Scotland.

The reigning champions will open their title defence against Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Tuesday (June 4). And Pollard, who was roped in as assistant coach late last year, had his first session with squad.

The former West Indies captain, who retired from all forms of the game in April 2022, won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and has played 660 T20 matches in his career, scoring 12900 runs and claimed 316 wickets.

Since retiring from international cricket, Pollard has continued to play in T20 leagues across the world and has also served as the batting coach of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

On Sunday (June 2), England Cricket posted on their social media handles that the former West Indies all-rounder has linked up with the squad by posting a picture of Pollard in an England training jersey with the caption: "Frist Session: Check."

Earlier in December 2023, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a media release, "Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard has been appointed to the England Men's coaching team for next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States."

"Pollard will join the England Men's team specifically for the T20 World Cup as an assistant coach and to provide expertise of the local conditions," the release further stated.

Pollard is not the only former West Indies T20 World Cup winner, who will be part of coaching set up in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Two of his former teammates and his former coach are also part of the support staff for different teams at the World Cup:

Who are the former West Indies players in coaching staff of T20 World Cup 2024 teams?

Kieron Pollard - England - Assistant Coach
Daren Sammy - West Indies - Head Coach
Phil Simmons - Papua New Guinea - Specialist Coach
Dwayne Bravo - Afghanistan - Bowling Consultant

England, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan have hired Pollard, Simmons and Bravo for their home knowledge due to the T20 World Cup 2024 being held in the Caribbean and USA.

While Pollard serves as batting coach for MI, Bravo is the bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings. Simmons is head coach for Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League (PSL).