Never ever turned down a West Indies tour or made myself unavailable for franchise tournaments: Dwayne Bravo

Never ever turned down a West Indies tour or made myself unavailable for franchise tournaments- Dwayne Bravo (Photo Source: Getty Images)

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo played his last international game against Australia in 2021. He played his last ODI match in 2014 and his final Test in 2010, when franchise cricket wasn’t as big as it is in 2024. Over the years, it has been reported several times that players such as Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard among several others opted out of international cricket to focus on franchise-based tournaments but the Trinidad-born all-rounder clarified that it wasn’t the case.

Defending himself, Bravo stated that the West Indies board never considered him but he was available for selection. The 40-year-old also mentioned that he never turned down a tour but the board instead painted him as a player who isn’t interested in playing for the national team. He explained that the board didn’t pick him for the national team, which is why he had to turn to franchise-based tournaments.

“I had never ever, ever turned down a West Indies tour or not made myself available for selection to play a franchise tournament. Never ever. The way how the board that painted is that these guys don’t want to play for West Indies, these guys not interested in West Indies cricket and these guys are only concerned about playing in the leagues. But when you play those leagues because you are not selected. Therefore, he has nothing else to do more than, ‘okay let’s go and play’ (franchise tournament),” Bravo said while talking to Mpumelelo Mbangwa.

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I was told two all-rounders cannot play in the team: Bravo

Bravo represented West Indies in 40 Test matches. He scored 2,200 runs at an average of 31.42 and picked up 86 wickets but was never considered after the series against Sri Lanka in 2010. Speaking about the same, Bravo noted that he wanted to prolong his Test career but he was instead told that two all-rounders cannot feature in the Test squad.

🏏🔗 Dwayne Bravo shares his side of the story.

Watch the full episode to hear more on the Mbangwa Media YouTube channel: https://t.co/Gf6bwzJw0P pic.twitter.com/RrALQgHeSx

— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) September 15, 2024

“In 2010, I was actively happy to play Test cricket, continue my Test career but it was cut. That wasn’t my decision, that wasn’t my choice. My Test career was cut in 2010 after playing 40 Test matches at the age of 26.. I was dropped and was never given opportunity again. I was told two all-rounders cannot play in the team and Darren Sammy was the captain. So..,” Bravo explained.