Bravo's Renegades negotiations "ongoing"
Twenty20 superstar Aaron Finch has confirmed his commitment to the Melbourne Renegades by signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him in red until the end of BBL|06, and given a clue to how close Dwayne Bravo is to returning to the club.
The Renegades skipper said in a TV interview that West Indies allrounder Bravo has been added to the Renegades squad for the fourth edition of the KFC T20 Big Bash League.
Speaking with ONE HD's The Thursday Night Sport Show from Dubai, Finch said: "The new players that we've brought into the squad, we've got Matthew Wade and Callum Ferguson, we've got some quality players there along with Dwayne Bravo."
However, Renegades Chief Executive Stuart Coventry has since told cricket.com.au that negotiations were ongoing.
“We are in discussions with Dwayne Bravo and, like all international players, his availability is subject to international commitments but we remain hopeful he can play for the Melbourne Renegades in BBL|04,†Coventry said on Friday.
Bravo featured in the Renegades line-up in the latter stages of BBL|03 and sparked speculation he would return to the men in red this summer after praising coach Simon Helmot during the recent Caribbean Premier League.
"I have worked with Simon before and I know what he brings to the table," Bravo said during the CPL where the pair worked together at Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.
"He has been able to use basically the same players we had last year and turn around their performances."
Finch's extension signals a show in faith to the Renegades organisation after his role as captain of the club went a long way to securing the role of Australia T20 skipper.
"I think we had a pretty poor year last year and to be able to sign again for another two years is really exciting for me personally," Finch said on TNSS.
"The way the squad is shaping up is really impressive and we've got a lot of new sponsors on board as well, so I think it's all looking really positive.
"All going well, we can hopefully win our first title this year."
Bravo would be a welcome addition for the Renegades as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign last summer when they finished sixth on the table.
Matthew Wade, Callum Ferguson and Jesse Ryder have already been locked in, with the squad now listed at 17. It was also announced today that South Australian batsman Tom Cooper has re-signed for a further two years, while batsmen Tom Beaton and Matt Short join bowler Nick Winter as additions to the roster in BBL|04.
Renegades BBL|04 squad so far: Aaron Finch (c), Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade, Jesse Ryder, Callum Ferguson, Alex Doolan, Ben Rohrer, Tom Cooper, Peter Nevill, Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Rimmington, Aaron O’Brien, Jayde Herrick, Tom Beaton, Nick Winter, Matt Short.
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