GROS ISLET, St Lucia – West Indies leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo is focused on carving out a long and successful international career.
The 25-year-old Bishoo earned the Man-Of-The-Match award after taking four wickets for 17 runs from his four overs, as West Indies defeated Pakistan by seven runs in their first-ever Twenty20 International at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Thursday.
“I want to be a great cricketer for the West Indies. I don’t want to be just a regular cricketer in the West Indies team. I dream of great things and being great,” he said.
Bishoo was part of a new-look West Indies team that admirably defended a total of 150.
His peformance followed a commendable effort in the recent World Cup where he was summoned as a replacement for the injured Dwayne Bravo.
“When I came on to bowl, I just tried to contain the batsmen. I varied my pace as much as possible, and it worked out,” Bishoo said.
“My self-confidence helped me a lot from World Cup up to now. This is just the starting point of my career, and I am enjoying my cricket.”
Bishoo said taking the big wicket of Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, a feared power-hitter, was no big thing for him. Nor was he focused on being a bowler that got leading batsmen out.
“Everybody is a normal cricketer, and that’s the way I go about thinking about it,” he said. “I just back myself, and do whatever I do best.”
Bishoo said he was happy to have fulfilled the dying wish of his father, who was an inspiration to him when he was still a very young boy.
“My dad’s wish for me was always to play for the West Indies,” he said. “When I was eight years old, he died.
“It was then me and my mum, no brother, no sister, and it was tough growing up, but I enjoyed it. I don’t just want to be a player for West Indies, I want to be one of the greatest players.”
Bishoo said he was looking forward to the remainder of the Pakistan series and was determined to give of his best.“I’m looking forward to the ODIs,” he said. “Whatever I do, I go about doing it with pride.
“Playing for the West Indies is a great achievement for me. It was a good performance by the entire team and we enjoyed every bit of it.
“We won and it is a great feeling playing in the Caribbean and winning the first match in the home series.”
The two sides start a five-match One-day International seriestoday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground. (CMC/HG)
