\u201cCricket has lost one of its greatest,\u201d says Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam
\n London
\nTributes poured in for Garry Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket, following his death at the age of 89 on Friday.
\nSobers represented the West Indies in 93 tests between 1954 and 1974, earning a reputation for his aggressive batting, versatility with both pace and spin bowling, and outstanding fielding.
\n\u201cA great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,\u201d Cricket West Indies wrote.
\nCricket West Indies President Kishore Shallow said Sobers would never be forgotten.
\n\u201cSir Garfield Sobers has completed his final innings, but his legacy will forever endure in the hearts of our region, and the story of the cricketing world,\u201d he wrote in a statement shared by Cricket West Indies.
\n\u201cOn behalf of Cricket West Indies, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government and people of Barbados and all those across the world who mourn his passing.\u201d
\nCricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring said \u201cSobers will forever remain one of the greatest ambassadors\u201d of the Caribbean.
\n\u201cHis legacy will endure wherever cricket is played, and his spirit will live on every time a young West Indian dreams of wearing the maroon with distinction,\u201d Dehring added.
\nRoston Chase, Hayley Matthews and Shai Hope, the three captains of the West Indies, remembered Sobers for his \u201cbrilliance, humility, and commitment\u201d, reflecting on an influence that extended far beyond the boundaries of the cricket field.
\n\u201cSir Garry\u2019s journey from Barbados to becoming the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen remains one of the most inspiring stories in the history of our game,\u201d the three skippers said in a joint statement.
\nFormer West Indies captain Brian Lara paid tribute to Sobers, wishing strength to his family to bear the irreplaceable loss.
\n\u201cRest easy, legend. Your legacy will never be forgotten,\u201d Lara said.
\nFormer England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described Sobers as a \u201conce-in-a-lifetime\u201d talent.
\n\u201cHe was a superstar and such an easy-natured guy. I never heard him complain or bad mouth other players. He had a good heart. He was generous with his time and advice,\u201d Boycott wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
\nSunil Gavaskar, the former India captain and a member of the country\u2019s 1983 World Cup-winning team, said it was \u201cprobably the saddest day for the game of cricket\u201d.
\n\u201cThe greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us,\u201d he said in a statement.
\n\u201cNo words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers the cricketer. He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the bat or the ball as kids.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cCricket has lost one of its greatest,\u201d says Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam London Tributes poured in for Garry Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket, following his death at the age of 89 on Friday. Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 tests between 1954 and 1974, earning a reputation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":557117,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-557109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n