Allrounder Dwayne Bravo says he never abandoned the Trinidad & Tobago team which won the Caribbean T20 series on Sunday night, and he will be making himself available for the Airtel Champions League in September.
T&T defeated English champion Hampshire in the final by 36 runs at Kensington Oval, Barbados, minus both Bravo and Keiron Pollard, two of its senior players. The duo were on contract with Victoria Bushrangers and South Australia Redbacks respectively in the Australian Big Bash series.
“I know there has been talk, Keiron Pollard and I put club before country but this was not the case.
“We had discussions with the president of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath, and also with the chairman of the selection panel, Dudnath Ramkessoon, and they give us their blessings. So it was a case of a lot of people having a say and in the end we decided to go to Australia.”
Although the Airtel Champions League is eight months away, Bravo said he is making himself available. “The Champions league is quite a while away but both Pollard and I will be making ourselves available to play for T&T. “Once given the opportunity we will be looking to go out there and represent T&T well and build on the good work the guys did in the Caribbean T20 series.”
Bravo congratulated national captain Daren Ganga on leading the team to victory.
“This was an inexperienced team and it was very touching to see them reach this far. While in Australia, I followed the series closely and was elated when we won.”
Bravo’s younger brother Darren was one of the stars in the tournament.
The older brother said he was happy to see Darren play his natural game.
“In any form of cricket, you play your natural game and I was glad to see Darren playing his natural game.
The series in Sri Lanka would have done the world of good for his confidence and this is what you are seeing now. I am happy with the way his career is progressing and I will be there for him to guide him along the right path.”