surprised ICC Emerging Player honour to Darren Bravo

London: Young West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has admitted to being surprised over his short-listing for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) 'Emerging Player of the Year' award, but is now backing his chances of walking away with the honour.

The 22-year-old, a stylish left-hander, will compete with fellow Windies teammate, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and the Pakistan duo of Azhar Ali and Wahab Riaz for the award at the Sep 12 ceremony here.
"It is a great feeling to be nominated. I was a bit surprised. It has been my first full year in international cricket and I am being listed in that sort of category, so it is special to me. I am thanking the lord for this and hopefully I get the award," says Bravo.
During the period under scrutiny, Bravo made his Test debut and has since played eight matches, averaging just over 39 with six half-centuries.
Bishoo, meanwhile, has taken 21 wickets in five Tests at 35 runs apiece since making his debut against Pakistan in May and has snared 19 scalps in 11 one-day internationals at an average of 21.