(GUARDIAN MEDIA) – Guyanese officials are upset that former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was not honoured by the government of Guyana at their 50th anniversary Jubilation function held recently in the South American country.
Lloyd, who is now the chairman of selectors of the West Indies senior cricket team is currently in Guyana, as his team battles in the Ballr Tri-series tournament against South Africa and Australia. An official of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) who wishes to remain anonymous said Lloyd should have been honoured because the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence coincided with Lloyd’s 50th anniversary of becoming a Test cricketer.
“We had a tremendous celebration here in Guyana and the government went all out to make the occasion memorable for the people of the country. However, it was disturbing that one of the favourite sons of the soil Clive Lloyd was not part of it.” Lloyd made his Test debut in 1966, the year Guyana became an Independent nation, and he is also celebrating 50 years of entering into the Test arena.
“Clive remains the most important figure in the regional game because he transformed West Indies cricket. He remains the most successful West Indies captain and it was Lloyd who made the world stand up and take notice of our cricket. He should have been honoured by the government.”
In 1971, Lloyd was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He captained the West Indies between 1974 and 1985 and oversaw their rise to become the dominant Test-playing nation, a position that was only relinquished in the latter half of the 1990s. He is one of the most successful Test captains of all time. During his captaincy the West Indies played 27 matches without losing, which included 11 wins in succession. He was the first West Indian player to earn 100 international caps.
Lloyd captained the West Indies in three World Cups, winning in 1975 and 1979, while losing in the final to India in 1983. Lloyd was a tall, powerful middle-order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler.
He was also a strong cover point fielder. He wore his famous glasses as a result of being poked in the eye with a ruler. Lloyd scored 7,515 Test runs at an average of 46.67. He hit 70 sixes in his Test career, which is the 14th highest number of any player.
What else is Clive Lloyd to do,to gain the due respect, and full recognition for his unique achievements in the sport of cricket. I firmly believe that the Providence Stadium should be named the Clive Lloyd Stadium.
Most than likely, it was a right thing to do to him. He is a complete DISGRACE TO GUYANESE CRICKETERS. I HAIL THAT DECISION.
What did the Chairman of Selectors did for Guyanese in the tri-nation series?
Some years ago, Clive Lloyd gave up a knighthood from the Queen of England because of politics when LFS Burnham was President. This is what he was given – a kick in the a** by this present Govt. What a shame; even your own does not need to be given a reward.
Did you submit his name??????
Being upset that Clive Lloyd was not nominated ; what about Claudette Masdammer who represented Guyana (British Guiana) at the 1954 Summer Olympic in Melbourne Australia and was Guyana’s first Sportswoman of the year a student athlete while attending Tutorial High School.