Lara urges Caribbean to celebrate 'father figure' Sobers

Published Jul 20, 08:59 PM UTC

Brian Lara has urged the Caribbean to celebrate the life of West Indies cricket legend Garry Sobers, who died aged 89. Sobers, widely regarded as cricket's greatest all-rounder, scored 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, a record that stood for 36 years until Lara broke it in 1994. Lara, who first met Sobers as a boy in a youth cricket competition, described him as a father figure, general, and mentor. He noted that Sobers and his contemporaries fought for Caribbean independence from English rule, contrasting with later West Indies teams focused on being the best in the world. Lara called Sobers 'the most amazing person I have ever met.'