‘Don’t see myself making a WI comeback’

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Dwayne Bravo says it is unlikely he will play for West Indies again, and sees his future solely in the various short-format leagues around the world.

After tearing his hamstring in Australia’s Big Bash League in December 2016, the Trinidadian allrounder endured a lengthy absence from all cricket. Bravo has not played for West Indies since the T20 series against Pakistan in the preceding September, and believes his chances of a recall into the team are slim.

“I am looking at these tournaments as a chance to continue playing cricket,” Bravo said. “As long as I can play cricket, I am happy. As far as internationals are concerned, I have been dropped from the West Indies team.

“I was dropped while I was fit. I don’t think now, at 34, it would make any sense coming back. I just need to see what is left for me, for my fans to see Dwayne Bravo playing cricket. That is my priority.”

Bravo has not played Test cricket for West Indies in seven years, and had not featured in an One-day International (ODI) since 2014. He says his absence from the game at the start of this year hurt, but he was happy to return to the T20 circuit.

Currently in Sharjah for the T10 League, Bravo is part of the Maratha Arabians as a late recruit, following Kumar Sangakkara’s withdrawal from the tournament. “I didn’t play for nine months [seven months],” Bravo said. “That is a lot. I missed the game and I have to be careful now. Playing BPL, we made it to the semi-finals. Unfortunately we didn’t make it all the way through, but I am happy to be playing again.”