PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):Trinidad and Tobago's hard-hitting batsman, Kieron Pollard, is disappointed over his non-selection for the International Cricket Council's Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa next month.
Anticipating selection, the 20-year-old Pollard had been preparing for the September 11-24 tournament.
"I have been working really hard with this tournament in mind, and it is disappointing not to be included on the team for the tournament," he said.
"In life, there are ups and downs but at the same time, when things like these happen, it is very dis-heartening," added Pollard, who represented West Indies at the 2006 Youth (Under-19) World Cup.
Pollard, a part-time medium pacer, was a standout performer for Trinidad and Tobago at the inaugural Stanford 20/20 series last year.
And after a fruitful regional (senior) season in which he stroked a shot-filled hundred - 126 against Barbados - on his first-class debut in January, he was also on the West Indies ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) squad.
The young man is still, however, looking ahead with enthusiasm.
"I am just going to keep on working as hard as I can, and hope that I get on when the other tours come around."
The West Indies will travel to Zimbabwe and South Africa, after the Twenty20 World Cup.
Another T&T player, Lendl Simmons, who also played at the last World Cup, said he was not surprised at not being selected.
"With this selection panel, no one has a permanent place, one minute you are in and the next you are out - so it really did not surprise me. Also, I am recovering from surgery on the right index finger and currently undergoing therapy, So I am not 100 percent fit."
Simmons added that he is okay with the decision and was not surprised by the make up of the team.
"I am okay with the fact that I was not selected. Looking at the team, this bunch was expected to be selected."
The West Indies will open their campaign in the Twenty20 World Cup against hosts South Africa at the New Wanderers Stadium in, Johannesburg on September 11.
