Key points
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders bought Jakeem Pollard for $10,000 at the Season 5 auction on 1 October 2026.
- The 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler from Barbados took four wickets in four games on his CPL debut this year.
- He is not related to Kieron Pollard.
- Five West Indies players were bought at the auction, and seven more were signed before it.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have signed Jakeem Pollard, an 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler from Barbados, for $10,000. The Knight Riders bought him at the ILT20 Season 5 auction at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Despite the famous name, he is not related to Kieron Pollard, the former West Indies all-rounder who has played for MI Emirates in the ILT20.
A fast start in the CPL
Pollard played his first Caribbean Premier League season in 2026, for Barbados Tridents. He made his debut in the home leg in Barbados and took four wickets in four games at an economy rate of 7.46, and the Tridents won all four to reach the playoffs.
ESPNcricinfo reported that he bowled at more than 140kph, hit Nicholas Pooran on the helmet and bounced out Sunil Narine. In Bridgetown on 12 September he dismissed Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul and Keacy Carty, who have all played international cricket.
Earlier in the year he played for West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup, taking six wickets in four innings at an average of 20.33. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons captain Moeen Ali said he would pick Pollard for the West Indies senior side straight away. “He’s left-arm, he’s tall and he gets that bounce,” Moeen said.
Teammates with Narine
At the Knight Riders, Pollard joins Sunil Narine, one of the batters he dismissed in the CPL, and Jason Holder. Both were signed before the auction. The Knight Riders also bought another West Indian, opener Andre Fletcher, for $40,000.
Dwayne Bravo was the Knight Riders’ head coach in the last two seasons, and the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) reported that he will coach the team again in Season 5.
Every West Indies player in ILT20 2026
Pollard was one of five West Indies players bought at the auction. Alzarri Joseph was the most expensive, joining Gulf Giants for $230,000. Seven more West Indies players were signed by their teams before the auction.
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alzarri Joseph |  Gulf Giants | $230,000 |
| Shamar Joseph | Gulf Giants | $80,000 |
| Andre Fletcher |  Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR | $40,000 |
| Alick Athanaze | Gulf Giants | $10,000 |
| Jakeem Pollard | Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR | $10,000 |
| Sunil Narine | Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR | Pre-signed |
| Jason Holder | Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR | Pre-signed |
| Shimron Hetmyer |  Desert Vipers | Pre-signed |
| Rovman Powell |  Dubai Capitals | Pre-signed |
| Nicholas Pooran |  MI Emirates | Pre-signed |
| Romario Shepherd | MI Emirates | Pre-signed |
| Sherfane Rutherford | MI Emirates | Pre-signed |
Roston Chase, Brandon King, Matthew Forde, Kamil Pooran, Quentin Sampson and Gudakesh Motie were not bought, CMC reported. See every price on our ILT20 auction 2026 page.
What comes next
Season 5 runs from Sunday 22 November to Sunday 20 December 2026. The Knight Riders’ first match date will be known once the fixtures are released. See the full Abu Dhabi Knight Riders squad and the ILT20 schedule.
Sources: CMC report in Caribbean Times, 3 Oct 2026, CNC3, ESPNcricinfo, 16 Sep 2026, official ILT20 auction results, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Jamaica Gleaner.
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