Sir Gary Sobers turns 80 on Thursday : world's leading players join in celebrations by Bipin Dani

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Ground:	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
Player:	GS Sobers

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DateLine: 28th July 2016

 

Sir Garry Sobers' 80th birthday celebrations © Bipin Dani

Mumbai, July 27 : World's leading former cricketers will assemble in Barbados on Thursday and celebrate the 80th Birthday of West Indies' and world's greatest all-rounder Sir Gary Sobers. They will also play a T-20 match in honour of his birthday at the Kensington Oval.

 

The match between Sir Gary Sobers XI (led by Carl Hooper) and the Brian Lara XI (captained by Lara) is organised by the Barbados Cricket Association and the 50th Anniversary of Independence Celebrations Secretariat.

 

India's Ravi Shastri, Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatungai, Pakistan's Wasim Akram and Zimbabwe's Tatenda Taibu are few among the several visiting players invited for the match. .

 

Incidentally, like Sobers, Ravi Shastri is one of the few others, who has also hit six sixes in an over. Shastri, though invited,may not have gone there.

 

WICB not involved

 

"We didn't want to "compete" with the organizers and therefore the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is not involved in the celebrations", Dave Cameron, the president of the WICB, speaking exclusively from Jamaica said on Wednesday.

 

Wadekar's wish : "score" 20 more

 

India's former skipper Ajit Wadekar will not be a party to the celebrations but will certainly wish him well from India.

 

"I have his number and will certainly speak to him on Thursday though I have not been in regular contact with him", Wadekar said from his Worli residence.

 

"In fact I just returned from USA last night and my ticket was booked many days ago. Otherwise I would have loved to join him in Barbados", he added.

 

Interestingly, Wadekar, during his playing days was once surprised by Sobers on his birthday on All Fools Day (April 1).

 

"I can never forget the 1971 incident when Sobers brought a cake on the field of play on on my birthday. Just before the toss in the Barbados Test, Sobers had asked me to cut the cake".

 

"It was a pleasant surprise from the opposite team captain and I shall never forget this gesture", he added.

 

"I wish Sir Sobers a very Happy Birthday and hope he "scores" 20 more, minimum that is", Wadekar signed off.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Bipin Dani)