Lara explains Sachin’s no show.
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
West Indies legend Brian Lara cleared the air yesterday as to why his great friend Sachin Tendulkar was not able to make the trip for the opening of his Stadium this evening at Tarouba.
Initially it was announced that the Indian master was coming to T&T for the opening of the Brian Lara Academy which will have a stand named in his honour.
Recently, it was reported that the batting maestro will not be here and Lara at a press briefing at his Lady Chancellor home explained: “After 13 years the structure has been handed back to the government of the day and I was contacted to be involved in the opening ceremony and a date for it. January was talked about, then April and May.
“I suggested my birthday May 2nd, which with preliminary inquiry sat well with a number of international players including Sachin Tendulkar my very good friend. May 2nd was a Tuesday and it stood for a while as the date until I was asked to consider a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
First, I contacted Sachin and he was okay with the date but could only squeeze in one day on his busy schedule. The numbers decreased with the other players for various reasons, main one being Mother’s day and plans already made.
Unfortunately, after further inspection of his schedule Sachin messaged me to say he couldn’t come as his schedule was too tight and he wants to come and spend more time in T&T.
He said, “let’s work on dates that he is free and he will be there.” I felt that proceedings were well on the way and with my schedule restrictions as well that it was best to stick to the date and arrange something with Sachin and other contemporaries of mine at a later date.”
This evening at 6pm the Stadium will be officially opened by the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, and at 7pm, there will be a clash featuring a Brian Lara XI against a World XI. Some of the foreign players coming are Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan World Cup winning captain of 1996. Herschelle Gibbs, a former South African batsman, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Browne, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Corey Collymore, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher and Ricardo Powell.
Lara, who holds the Test batting record of 400 runs will lead a team packed with local stars like Dwayne Bravo back from injury, Denesh Ramdin, Rayad Emrit, Kevon Cooper, Evin Lewis, Tion Webster and veterans Mervyn Dillon and newly appointed SPORTT chairman Dinanath Ramnarine.
Also in there is young West Indies Under-19 batsman Kirstan Kallicharran.
On the point of the controversy surrounding the construction of the facility Lara said: “This morning I woke up to the usual beautiful noise of the yellow winged parrots as they head on their daily routine in search of food. As that noise subsided my mind and heart returned to that other noise that has had me perplexed, disappointed not in anyone but myself.
“And, of course a little embarrassed. I believe it unnecessary for me to address the furore over the construction of the Tarouba facility and the integrity of the same because I am not in any way qualified to speak on such topics.
“We heard from professionals and I am satisfied. What I can say though is that I visited the venue on many occasions and made suggestions which I have seen been implemented. This can be confirmed by the Project Managers on site.”
Lara, a former West Indies and T&T captain, added that he dug deep to come up a unique plan to make this facility one of the kind in the region.
He pointed out: “This country has given me too much already, the love and support, the tangibles and intangibles I am truly grateful for and still am. I felt that young cricketers in the Caribbean needed better facilities and a place where they could advance their skills both sporting and academically in the right environment. Today we are on our way to completing that dream, that discussion. Cricket is a platform for statesmanship.”
He continued, “I therefore humbly suggest we as a people can lift the bar. Not only for ourselves, but for our children and the greatness they can all aspire too! This is not only a dream, this is a possibility that can inspire us to be better. I dug deep and wondered what would make this facility different to other facilities in T&T?
“What can make this facility a truly international facility to the envy of the world? What can make this facility self-sufficient and less dependent on government funds for upkeep and operational cost.”
Lara, who hold the highest first class score of 501 runs in an inning added, “ It doesn’t belong to me but it bears my name like quite a few things.
“But this is maybe the most significant thing or piece of real estate and I want my legacy to speak about this in a positive way.”
A legend of West Indies cricket Lara said, “Today I can safely say no one knows who I am, no one has asked the important questions to truly understand me and what woke me up on my darkest days to fight looking for that tiny ray of light to soldier on towards it. I felt through this Stadium/Academy I could express those things in a way you may not understand and appreciate today but our children, grandchildren and their children will understand in years to come.”
Teams for tonight’s clash
Trinidad & Tobago Brian Lara XI
Brian Lara, Mervyn Dillon, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit, Evin Lewis, Kirstan Kallicharan, Tion Webster, Dinanath Ramnarine, Kevon Cooper, Jason Mohammed, Navin Stewart, Lyndon Lara.
International XI
Herschelle Gibbs, Devon Malcolm, Gladstone Small, Arjuna Ranatunga, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Terryne Sunil Fray, Imran Khan, Curtly Ambrose, Ricardo Powell, Courtney Browne, Kirk Edwards, Corey Collymore Ian Bradshaw.