PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard will miss Trinidad and Tobago’s campaign in next month’s Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, after opting to play in Australia’s Big Bash T20 tournament.
Cricket authorities here had hoped that the duo would still make themselves available to play in the CT20 but convenor of selectors Dudnath Ramkessoon said this week both players would be definitely absent.
Bravo will turn out for Victoria in the Big Bash which runs from December 30 to February 5 with Pollard playing for South Australia.
“Bravo and Pollard are under contract to play in Australia and as such we cannot do anything about it,” Ramkessoon said.
“It is a big blow for T&T but at the same time it presents an opportunity for other players to raise their hands and come forward.
“We have a number of very talented players in T&T and they must back themselves to do well. They must now get rid of any complacency that they might have harboured depending on those two players and now stand up and be counted.”
As a result of their absence from the CT20, both players will now be ineligible for selection to the West Indies T20 side for the next year.
They will be joined by big-hitting opener Chris Gayle who will also campaign in the Big Bash for Western Australia.
With Bravo and Pollard’s absence confirmed, National selectors are now scheduled to announce the 14-man squad to represent T&T in the CT20 on Sunday.
The CT20 will run from January 10-23 in Antigua and Barbados.
