BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP) — Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced that Barbados will observe a national day of mourning in honour of cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers.

Sobers would have been 90 on July 28.

In a video statement confirming the death of the Bajan National Hero, Mottley said: “Across Barbados and across the world we hold him with gratitude, with reverence and with a tender sorrow that comes when the people have to say farewell to one of their greatest sons.”

READ:  Cricket giant Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

Reflecting on Sobers’ beginnings, she noted that he had not been born into privilege but carried the Caribbean to new heights.

“He travelled from Bayland to Kensington, from Kensington to Sabina Park and on to the world stage, carrying his country Barbados, carrying the West Indies and carrying the Caribbean as a whole with distinction,” she noted.

Highlighting his time as a cricketer with the West Indies, the prime minister said Sobers is remembered as the greatest all-rounder the world has ever seen, not simply because of his records but because he became the standard by which greatness would forever be measured.

“We remember the image of Sir Gary kneeling less than a mile from where he was born to receive his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, knowing full well that his people had already crowned him in their hearts,” she said.

Celebrating his memory, she noted: “Every innings, however great, must at some point come to a close. The finest innings do not end in silence. They end with a whole ground rising and with a grateful people saying, thank you, and yes, we love you.”

Mottley extended condolences to Sobers’ family, including his children and stepchildren, declaring July 17th a day of national mourning and announcing another day of national mourning on the day of the interment of the legendary cricketer.

At that time, flags in the country are to be flown at half-mast, and there will be no other official functions.

“Sir Gary, Barbados stands for you. The West Indies stands for you. The world stands for you. For an innings that was so well played, Sir Gary, so well played. We will always love you,” she said.

Garfield Sobers