BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC):

Embattled opener Kieran Powell says mixed signals from West Indies cricket authorities left him 'deflated and confused' and foiled his attempt to return to international cricket, following a self-imposed break from the game.

In a statement issued Wednesday, his first since playing his last competitive game last June, the 24-year-old left-hander confirmed he had taken a break from cricket 'to deal with a personal issue' and had received support from then coach Ottis Gibson, team manager Sir Richie Richardson, and then chairman of selectors Clyde Butts.

Powell said he also spoke to West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron, who also pledged the board's support.

However, three months after stepping away from the game, Powell said he revisited his situation and decided to make himself available for the tour of India, which was eventually abandoned following a players strike.

He said he subsequently had a 'positive conversation with West Indies coach, Stuart Williams, about his decision to return, with Williams asking him to ensure the 'relevant measures' were taken to facilitate his comeback.

Left confused

However, after speaking to Cameron and Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus, along with the new selection panel chaired by West Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, Powell said he was left confused about his immediate future with the squad.

"During my conversation with Mr Cameron, I communicated my wishes to make myself available for international cricketing duties again," Powell said. "This time there was an awkward hesitancy throughout the conversation less than four weeks after our initial conversation where he had been extremely encouraging about my return to international duty."

He stated during our conversation that I had not been practising, which was assumed on his part. He then asked me to contact Mr Pybus, which I immediately did."

Powell said that in his subsequent conversation with Pybus, he was accused of 'walking off the job' and told that he needed to return to grassroots cricket in order to make his way back into the regional squad.

Powell, the sixth Test player to emerge from Nevis, last played for West Indies in the first Test against New Zealand last June, did not feature in the Caribbean Premier League, the early rounds of the WICB Professional Cricket League, and was not named to in the Leewards squad for the NAGICO Super50 starting next week in Trinidad and Tobago.