Test squad to return home for Sir Garfield Sobers’ farewell

Following West Indies victory in four days during the opening test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the Barbadian players and members of staff will fly home to attend the funeral of Sir Garfield Sobers on Wednesday.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, while speaking on the Mason and Guest Cricket Show.

West Indies completed a 90 run victory with a day to spare, which will allow the group to join the thousands of people from around the world at Kensington Oval, during the funeral.

“The good news is that we’ve just completed the arrangements, and if all goes well the players and coach Floyd Reifer should all be coming in, so we look forward to them being here for the state funeral tomorrow,” Prime Minister Mottley revealed.

“It is an appropriate and fitting tribute, you know somebody joked with me and said, I bet you they win that match in four days and come home for the funeral. And when they said it to me, I smiled at the time and I said I wish and last night when I saw what had happened, I said, OK, OK, this can go either way, and I said a little prayer.”

Prime Minister Mottley also congratulated captain Roston Chase, who she commended for understanding the significance of the occasion.

“Roston was very clear and I mean it was a wonderful conversation, and I really want to salute him, his steadiness, his purpose, his commitment, and his understanding of the significance of the moment for the people of this nation and for the people of this region and of course the wider team.”

(KH)