'75, '79 Windies World Cup heroes honoured

Kingston, Mar 14 (UNI) Seventeen surviving World Cup winners who brought glory to West Indies in 1975 and 1979, including Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Michael Holding, were honoured for their contribution to Caribbean cricket.

Gordon Greenidge, Alvin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Collis King, Larry Gomes, Faoud Bacchus, Deryck Murray, Maurice Foster, Bernard Julien, Lance Gibbs, Vanburn Holder and Collin Croft were the other greats who were honoured.

The galaxy of legends were presented momentoes at a brief but nostalgic ceremony at the Sabina Park here before the start of the World Cup lung opener between hosts West Indies and Pakistan.

Overcome by emotions, Lloyd, who captained both the 1975 and 1979 Cup-winning sides, described it as ''a special moment'' while speaking on behalf of the yesteryear stars.

In his short address to the past cricketers, West Indies Board president Ken Gordon said,''On behalf of the people of the West Indies and cricket fans worldwide, we thank your dedication, determination, passion, playing finesse, collective style, power and your grace and ultimately for the pride.'' Each of the players were then presented commemorative tokens by ICC CEO Malcolm Speed and an enthused Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller amidst thunderous applause.

In a touching moment for West Indies cricket, ICC President Percy Sonn handed over the trophy won by the two teams to Lloyd.

''On behalf of the entire 1975 and 1979 West Indies teams which I had the honour of captaining and the pleasure of being a member of, I wish to take this opportunity to share with you the immense pride we take in seeing the Cricket World Cup hosted on our shores,'' Lloyd said.

Lloyd said it had been ''a long journey of over 30 years in which the West Indies dominated the game, learnt to deal with defeat and celebrate our continued achievements.'' He went on to add, ''To be here to witness the first game of the tournament at a beautiful Sabina Park is a unique pleasure for us all. We are making history, as we did before and as I hope we will again.'' Lloyd also made sure to acknowledge the missing members of those units.

''I must remember Roy Fredericks, Keith Boyce, Malcolm Marshall and the team manager and coach Sir Clyde Walcott who have sadly passed on,''the current West Indies team's coordinator said.

Still alive, but not present was Desmond Haynes, a member of the 1979 squad whose wife died recently.

The legends of the game then left the arena to a warm ovation and waving by the cheering crowd.

UNI