TTCB lauds local award recipients

THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has extended its congratulations to Darren Bravo, his half-brother Dwayne and Sunil Narine who were all in winners’ row on Thursday when the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the WI Players Association (WIPA) held their annual joint awards in Kingston, Jamaica.

Darren Bravo copped the prestigious “Cricketer of the Year” Award, his elder brother Dwayne was adjudged “One-Day International Cricketer of the Year”, and Narine was handed the “T20 Cricketer of the Year” honours.

“We extend our heartiest congratulations to these three illustrious sons of the soil who have proven by these awards that they are not only among the best in the region but among the best in the world,” said Azim Bassarath, president of the TTCB.

He said the TTCB also recognises the performances in the past year of the other WI stars who received recognition awards on Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel — Stafanie Taylor (Female Cricketer of the Year) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Test Cricketer of the Year).

“We are extremely proud not only of our own Bravo brothers and Narine but the other award winners who are a credit to the Caribbean and the game of cricket. They are indeed role models who the young people can emulate if they are to distinguish themselves,” Bassarath said.

Guyanese veteran Chan-

derpaul also received an award for playing his 150th Test while Jamaican opening batsman Chris Gayle was also honoured as he prepares to play is 100th Test for the West Indies against New Zealand starting today at Sabina Park.

“The awards are well-deserved and we believe will serve the players well as they seek to gain motivation to excel even more and contribute to the continued rebuilding of the fortunes of West Indies cricket,” said Bassarath.

Darren Bravo is a 25-year-old stroke-maker who has played 27 Tests to date scoring 2,011 runs with a highest of 218 and an average of 44.68. He has also represented the WI in 73 One-Day Internationals scoring one even century in 1,893 runs for an average of 31.03.

His brother Dwayne, 30, is the captain of the regional One-Day International team and an inspirational cricketer who has scored 2,200 runs in 40 Test matches. He has also played 158 ODIs with 2,927 runs, and 199 wickets.

Narine who is currently embroiled in a selection issue with the WICB recently returned from India where he was an integral part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise winning the Indian Premier League T20 crown for the second time in three years.

He has only played six Tests for the West Indies but is a mainstay of the T20 team which won the ICC World Championship in 2010 in Sri Lanka. He is currently rated the number two T20 bowler in the world behind his compatriot Samuel Badree.