Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the second most prolific Test cricketer in Windies history, is to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) St. Augustine campus later this year.
The university made the announcement Tuesday that the 43-year-old batsman will be bestowed with the Honorary Doctor of Laws during the campus graduation ceremonies beginning October 25.
During a Test career that spanned two decades (1994-2015), Chanderpaul played a record 164 Tests for the Windies scoring 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37. During that time he scored 30 Test centuries and 66 fifties and was a stabilizing force in the Windies middle order.
He was also prolific in ODIs, amassing 8,778 runs at an average of 41.60 in 268 matches during which he scored 11 centuries and 59 half-centuries.
Chanderpaul announced his retirement from international cricket in January 2016. He was 41 years old and had not played for the Windies since May of the previous year.
Windies selectors said he was not considered for selection following a poor run of form during which he averaged 15.33. This prompted Windies great Brian Lara to express his disappointment at the way in which Chanderpaul was dropped.
“I was very disappointed that Shiv was not allowed a couple of more Test matches, not necessarily to break the record but to have a proper send-off. Something I think he is very disappointed and unfortunately that did not happen,” Lara said.
“That guy with the most Test matches for the West Indies, playing for over 20 years, I don’t think people in the West Indies understand exactly his contribution.” (SportsMax)
