New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo Friday admitted that his team is in the midst of a distracting off-field dispute, but the entire squad is supporting one another to ensure that it doesn't affect their performance on the ground.
"Everyone is providing support to each other. The balance of the side is great. As a captain, it is important for me to stay calm and keep the team members relaxed, particularly when things are not going well off the field," said Bravo ahead of their second One-Day International (ODI) against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Saturday.
The start of the five-match ODI bilateral series has been dampened by a dispute over a payment agreement between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).
The dispute had raised the possibility of the first ODI at Kochi on Wednesday being boycotted by the visiting team. But timely intervention by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) neutralised the issue.
The BCCI played the role of a 'mediator' between the West Indies players and their two cricket bodies to ensure that all went according to schedule.
The all-rounder admitted that playing India in their own backyard is a "big test", but he is satisfied with the team's form after defeating the home side by 124 runs at Kochi.
"This is a big test. I am very happy with the performance of the team so far. We hope to finish well after a good start. We must be consistent and work as a team," the Chennai Super Kings player said.
"We are prepared to play in all conditions. We are taking one step at a time and are mentally ready to play a long tour here. Players are willing to get accustomed to the conditions, adapt and adjust according to the demands of the playing conditions," the 31-year-old concluded.
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