London, Sep 10 (IANS/CMC): 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.

"I think it will be very tough because all the others have performed pretty well. It is about their hard work as well and congratulation to them as well for being nominated.

"Someone like Devendra Bishoo has put in a tremendous amount of hard work since he has come in. So may the best man win."

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.