West Indies captain Roston Chase has dedicated his side’s historic Test victory over Pakistan to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday.
Coincidentally, the West Indies defeated the visitors by 90-runs on the fourth day of play, to record the first Test win at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Speaking in a post-match press conference, Chase said the result was in honour of Sir Garry, who passed away on July 17 and is widely regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time.
Sir Garry will be laid to rest during a state funeral in Barbados on Wednesday.
“This is a good feeling. Obviously the first match at the Brian Lara Stadium, so to come and get a win here is very good for us and also the passing of a legend, the great Sir Garfield Sobers, coming and beating the Pakistanis in four days, especially on his birthday as well, it’s a good sendoff to him as well and a really good feeling,” Chase said.
“…I think that it would be a good gesture, it would be a great privilege and an honour for me to go home and attend the funeral of the great Sir Garfield Sobers, so if it’s available for me, I’ll be there.”
Following the press conference, Chase and white-ball captain Shai Hope, along with fellow Barbadians Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop and Jomel Warrican, returned home with the assistance of the Government of Barbados to attend the funeral.
They will be part of a Cricket West Indies (CWI) contingent that will also include President Dr Kishore Shallow, Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring, along with CWI Directors Enoch Lewis, President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Board; Bissoondyal Singh, President of the Guyana Cricket Board; and Clement Marcellin, President of the Windward Islands Cricket Board.
CMC
