West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from international cricket, saying that the T20 World Cup Super 12 match against Australia would be his last game in the maroon jersey.
The West Indies bowed out of the tournament after the loss to Sri Lanka last night ensured that the team would not make it to the semifinals.
Bravo had quit international cricket in 2018 but made a return in the T20 format in 2019. He has played 90 T20Is, 164 ODIs and 40 Test matches for the Windies.
He played an instrumental role in the team winning the 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cups, and even briefly captained the side. He has participated in every T20 World Cup since the first one in 2007.
"I think the time has come. I've had a very good career,” said Bravo after the Sri Lanka game.
“To represent the West Indies for 18 years, I've had some ups and downs, but as I look back at it, I'm very grateful to represent the region and the Caribbean people for so long.
"One thing I am proud about is that the era of cricketers we had we were able to make a name for ourselves on the global stage and not only do that but have silverware to show for it."
Bravo, 38, is expected to continue playing T20 franchise cricket. He recently won the 2021 Indian Premier League with the Chennai Super Kings.
Poor show
The West Indies were eliminated from the semi-final race in the T20 World Cup after a 20-run loss to Sri Lanka here on Thursday as their ageing stars failed to recreate the magic of the past.
Going into the game with two losses in three games, the West Indies were always up against it and Sri Lanka out-batted them by amassing 189 for three on a good batting surface.
Pathum Nissanka (51 off 41) and Charith Asalanka (68 off 41) struck sublime half-centuries to give Sri Lanka the upper-hand. The West Indies could only reach 169 for eight despite Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 81 off 54 balls.
For Sri Lanka, it was their first win of the Super 12 stage and they go home offering hopes for a bright future.
The West Indies' forgettable campaign showed the need to look beyond greats like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo while rebuilding ahead of the 2022 edition.
The side collected only two points from their four Super 12 matches and will play their last match of the edition against Australia on November 6.
- With inputs from PTI