“He was one of the giants of West Indies cricket”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara has expressed his disappointment at the fact that compatriot and former team-mate Shivnarine Chanderpaul did not get a “proper send-off”.

Chanderpaul brought his illustrious career to an end on Saturday and will go down as one of the finest and classiest batsmen that the West Indies have ever produced.

“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 [about] 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.”

Chanderpaul, who had not represented the West Indies in Tests since May 2015, finished his storied career with 11,867 runs in 164 Tests, making him the second-highest run-scorer for the West Indies in Test cricket. Lara, who scored 86 more runs than Chanderpaul, holds the record of being the West Indies’ highest run-scorer in Tests as he amassed 11,953 in 131 Tests.

“Shiv, who played since 1994, had a tremendous career. I started with Shiv in Guyana and remember his first Test match against England,” Lara said. “He has been a great servant for West Indies cricket and he has done some tremendous things throughout his career, and credit must be given to the man for how he has played.

“When I do have the opportunity to give him a call and thank him, I will because for me he was one of the giants of West Indies cricket.”