Following his break over, Darren Bravo will be back with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force unit.
The Red Force players will get the first of just two opportunities to play competitively before the start of the West Indies Four-Day Championship when they play a three-day practice match in Preysal. And Bravo is expected to be part of the action.
This was confirmed by Red Force coach and selection chairman David Furlonge yesterday. He also told that Bravo would also play in next week’s North/South Classic, as well as the Four-Day Championship.
Bravo captained the Red Force in the recent CG United Super50 Cup staged in Trinidad and emerged as the leading batter as the hosts clinched the title with an unbeaten run.
However, after being overlooked for the WI One-Day International squad for the recent home series against England, which the West Indies won 2-1, the 34-year-old announced that he was stepping away from the game “just for a bit”.
However it was reported that Bravo was contacted by Cricket West Indies director of cricket Miles Bascombe about going on next month’s Test tour of Australia but he declined the offer.
In an emotional post on social media platform Instagram, he said
“At this point in my career it’s not easy or should I say it takes a lot to continue to find the energy, the passion, commitment and discipline to be able to perform to the best of my ability and put myself in a position to make my return to international cricket.”
Bravo, who last played for the West Indies in January 2022 in a T20 International against England, led the Red Force to victory in last November’s Super50 Cup, in which he was the leading run-scorer.
Speaking on the Mason and Guest cricket radio show in Barbados on Tuesday, Furlonge admitted he was “surprised” that Bravo had turned down the chance to tour, but added that, “I know he’s disappointed at not being selected in the 50 overs against England but we have to move on. Hopefully he gets back himself. He has made himself available for Trinidad. We’ll see how that goes from there.”
Furlonge also said: “I respect his decision, I know what he is going through…I believe he will have to start over and have another good year before he’s considered for (West Indies) selection again.”