THE DWAYNE Bravo-led, Ottis Gibson-coached West Indies team touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at 12:15hrs yesterday, to keep their date with Pakistan, whom they face in two One Day Internationals at the

Guyana National Stadium, tomorrow and next Tuesday.
Shortly after deplaning from their Caribbean Airlines BW 606 flight, skipper Dwayne Bravo said Guyanese can expect exciting cricket from the Regional side, who are looking to rebound from their poor showing in the Champions Trophy and Celkon Tri-Nation Series.
Digicel (Guyana) Incorporated Head of Marketing Jacqueline James, Public Relations Officer Shonnet Moore and Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope, along with president and vice-president of the Guyana Cricket Board Dru Bahadur and Fizul Bacchus, met the Windies in the VIP Lounge upon their arrival.
James also handed over a pack of SIM cards to the team’s manager Richie Richardson, so that the players can stay connected during their sojourn here in Guyana.
“The fans can expect some excitement and some heart. We are going to rebound from our disappointed end to a very good series which started in Jamaica, but we regrouped, had a couple of days off and now look forward to this series against Pakistan,” said Dwayne Bravo.
He added, “Here in Guyana, we always do well and we know the people in Guyana come out and support us 100% so we are going to make sure we give the fans what they really come out to see, which is the performance to win cricket game and I am really looking forward to another series.”
The 30-year-old Bravo, who took over the reins of captaincy from Darren Sammy just before the start of last month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England, said he was looking forward to leading the side once again, after he was suspended following a one match ban for slow over-rate in one of the Celkon Cup matches.
“I am definitely looking forward to another series and an exciting time to lead a bunch of guys that I am happy with and let’s see how it goes from Sunday.”
Touching on his own form, Bravo said the few matches he has been at the helm, he has been unable to perform but that aside, he has been analysing his own performances, especially those after he was named captain of the team and is looking for a change in fortunes against Pakistan.
“Since I took over the captaincy, I have only played a few matches and I did not get much opportunity. I even missed a couple games through injury and the one match when I was banned. But personally, I am not going to actually analyse my own personal performance as yet, whether the captaincy is going to affect me or not.
“I have been a leader in the team since I started playing, so this new role is not much of a difference. It just makes the challenge more mental for me, but I think I have the right number of guys with the experience to help me through the tough period and I am looking forward to doing well with both bat and ball.”
“As I said in previous interviews, I really need to actually step up a bit more with my batting, bowling and fielding, in order for the team to do well, since the team requires me to perform at my best and once I can do that, the team and by extension West Indies cricket will benefit some more,” said Bravo.
He expressed confidence in his captaincy role, adding that the five games against Pakistan will be used by him, wherein he will be setting out to work harder off the field and focus some more, with the aim of staying fit and being ready when I am ready.
“Yes, I am very comfortable. I am comfortable with the squad and I am comfortable with each and every player. I know a lot of players had a poor form in the last series. But they are all good players and we know what they did in the past and there is not much I can say to them, but just to make sure they believe in themselves.
“I have to make sure they continue to back their ability. They have done great for the West Indies in the past and people must not forget that. We all know some persons have short minds in the Caribbean, but just remember the great things they have done for us over the past eight years or so and I am looking forward to the guys who have not done well in the last series, to come forward and do well.”
Even though no Guyanese has been included in the West Indies squad for the first two ODIs, Bravo is calling on cricket-loving fans in Guyana to come out and continue to throw their support behind the Regional team tomorrow and Tuesday, for which Chris Gayle is expected to play his 250th ODI match.
He said the Pakistanis are respected highly by the West Indies, with some persons classifying the visitors as another West Indies team, while they (Windies) would be riding high with confidence when they head into the five-match series, since they won the last series between the two sides.
Both West Indies and Pakistan will have a practice session at the Guyana National Stadium, today, with the Windies using the venue this morning while Pakistan will do so this afternoon. The West Indies will make a visit to Patentia, West Bank Demerara this afternoon.

The full Windies squad reads: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Christopher Gayle, Johnson Charles, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Tino Best, Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons.