West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo on Saturday (November 6) said it was the right time for him to bid adieu to international cricket as their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign ended earlier than expected.
However, Bravo insisted that he will continue playing franchise cricket for some more years if his body allows.
Bravo, 38, featured in his last game for West Indies as the defending champions exited the T20 World Cup 2021 following an eight-wicket defeat against Australia.
Bravo had come out of retirement in 2019 to help West Indies defend their T20 title but it could not happen as they managed to win only one of their five Super 12 games.
"I will continue playing franchise cricket for a few more years as long as my body will allow me to. My aim was to retire a few years ago, but with a change of presidency and change of leadership comes a change of heart, and I wanted to give back to West Indies because I was still in a good place physically and enjoy my cricket," Bravo said in the post-match press conference.
"....I think this was the right moment for me to walk away from the game, and allow the next generation and young players who I share a very good friendship with to come through.
"They still see me around but more passing information around as policy and trying to give my experience back to the next group of players, and hopefully they can also have a 12 to 18-year career as well," he added.
Having made his international debut in 2004, Dwayne Bravo represented West Indies in 40 Tests, 164 ODIs, and 91 T20Is.
Asked about the special moments of his career, he mentioned receiving his Test cap at Lord's and "walking on the field for the first time".
"That was a special moment. Obviously, my childhood hero, Lara, was a captain. That was very special. Winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004 was another specialty moment for me.
"My first Test against South Africa, another special moment. And obviously the two T20 World Cup was a special moment for me. It was good that I was able to have some success throughout my career."
Bravo also spoke about his friendship with skipper Kieron Pollard, who was instrumental in his coming out of retirement two years ago.
"In terms of friendship with Polly, as he said before, I'm his senior but when he come into cricket at a very young age, we all spotted his talent and his ability. I wish he could have played some Test cricket. He didn't even know he was good enough or qualified to play.
"But to see the way he went on and become a superstar in the game, and regardless of what people might say with him not playing Test cricket, he has his own legacy, and he's a superstar of the game and we should be grateful, I am grateful to have him as a teammate and more so a friend.
"I'm still very happy with the way how we lead West Indies cricket in the last two years, and West Indies need strong leadership, and he's a strong leader. We know this wasn't meant to be, but I know as an individual, he will bounce back strong with his character, and I'm very happy that I was able to be a part of this journey with him."
(With PTI inputs)
