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Days after Dwayne Bravo publicly criticized Cricket West Indies (CWI) for excluding his brother Darren Bravo from the ODI squad for the England series, the left-handed batsman has made a significant announcement about his cricketing future.
Darren took to social media to share his decision to step back from West Indies cricket following his omission from the national squad. The controversy arose when selectors cited his age as a determining factor for exclusion, despite Darren’s outstanding performances in domestic tournaments.
Domestic dominance unacknowledged
Despite being the highest run-scorer in the Super50 and a consistent performer in regional tournaments, Darren was not selected for the ODI series against England. Over the last four years, he showcased exceptional form in domestic cricket, averaging 96.2, 65.0, 48, and 83.2 runs per inning. His recent achievement in leading the Red Force to victory in the CG United Super50 Cup Tournament earned him the Golden Bat, having scored 416 runs with a best of 139 not out and an impressive average of 83.2.
Disappointment over lack of communication
Expressing his disappointment on Instagram, Darren criticized the lack of communication from the selectors, stating that it left him in a ‘very dark place.’ He emphasized the challenges of maintaining the energy, passion, commitment, and discipline required to perform at his best without clear communication.
Also READ: Dwayne Bravo slams Cricket West Indies over brother Darren Bravo’s exclusion from the ODI squad for England series
“I’ve taken some time to ponder and wonder what’s my next step moving forward as a cricketer. 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. Without any level communication I’ve been left in a very dark place,” Darren wrote in his post on Instagram.
Not giving up yet
Acknowledging that his time might be up if he couldn’t secure a place in any of the three regional teams across multiple formats, Darren clarified that he was not giving up on his cricketing career. Instead, he emphasized that stepping away was a decision to make room for emerging talent and wished everyone the very best.
“At the moment there’s three teams representing the region in multiple formats/series. That’s approximately 40–45 players and if I can’t be in any of these teams after competing in our regional tournaments and scoring runs, therefore they are basically telling me that the writing is on the wall. I’m not giving up but I believe it’s best to step away just for a bit and maybe make some room for a young and upcoming talent. I will end by wishing each and everyone all the very best. “I’ve lived my dream” 46,” added Darren.
