Dwayne Bravo has been recalled by West Indies after three long years

Dwayne Bravo has been recalled to the West Indies squad on Sunday, more than three years after his last appearance as an international player. Since the recall has happened in the build-up to the defense of their World Twenty20 title, Bravo will likely play the big event as well.

The 36-year-old all-rounder was named in a 13-man squad for a three-match series against Ireland later this month. A two-time World T20 winner, Bravo has been performing well in the various franchise cricket tournaments that he plays for.

The West Indies seem to be thinking long-term with the next World Cup in the game’s shortest format taking place in Australia in October and November.

Bravo last played for the T20 side against Pakistan in September 2016 before he quit to concentrate on franchise cricket.

“Dwayne Bravo was recalled with the specific intention of bolstering our ‘death’ bowling which was identified as an area that really needs improving,” said West Indies chief selector Roger Harper.

“His record in this department speaks for itself. He will also be able to act as a mentor to the other ‘death’ bowlers and lend his experience wherever needed.”

Bravo has played 66 T20 internationals for West Indies, from which he has picked 52 wickets and scored 1,142 runs with the bat.

In what has been a career full of controversies, Bravo last played Test in 2010 and has played 40 Tests in total. He was sacked as the ODI skipper in 2014 after leading a walkout during a tour of India over a pay dispute.

Among other changes in the squad is the recall of Rovman Powell, who has played 23 T20 internationals.

Jason Holder, meanwhile, has been given a rest. He did not play three ODIs against Ireland too.

West Indies T20 squad to face Ireland: Kieron Pollard (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh, Kesrick Williams.