All-rounder Dwayne Bravo played his last international match against Australia in 2021, with his final ODI in 2014 and his last Test in 2010, a time when franchise cricket wasn’t as dominant as it is in 2024.

Over the years, reports have suggested that players like Bravo, Chris Gayle, and Kieron Pollard opted out of international cricket to focus on franchise tournaments. However, Bravo clarified that this was not the case.

Defending himself, Bravo said the West Indies board never considered him for selection, though he was always available. He also denied ever turning down a tour, despite the board portraying him as uninterested in the national team.

“I had never, ever turned down a West Indies tour or made myself unavailable to play in favor of a franchise tournament. Never. The way the board painted it was that we didn’t want to play for West Indies and were only interested in the leagues. But we were playing those leagues because we weren’t selected. So, what else can you do but say, ‘Okay, let’s go and play,'” Bravo explained in an interview.

Bravo played 40 Test matches for West Indies, scoring 2,200 runs at an average of 31.42 and taking 86 wickets. Reflecting on his Test career, Bravo shared that he wanted to continue but was dropped after the 2010 series against Sri Lanka. “In 2010, I was happy to continue my Test career, but it was cut short. That wasn’t my choice. I was dropped after 40 Test matches at the age of 26 and never given another opportunity. I was told two all-rounders couldn’t be in the team, and Darren Sammy was the captain,” Bravo said.