Notes from a small island

Notes from a small island
A weblog by Jonathan Ali

Friday, December 12, 2003

As the West Indies engage South Africa on the first day of the first Test (as I type, the Proteas are 206 for 2 at tea), here's an extract from a touching story from CricInfo on West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (via the CaribbeanCricket blog):

Before he left Guyana for the tour of England as a 19-year-old nearly a year ago, Sarwan had been deeply in love with the girlfriend he first went out with when they were barely into their teens. They had, by all accounts, been inseparable. But Sarwan realised that his relationship caused worry and doubt among his peers and the hierarchy of West Indian cricket, and he was desperate not to jeopardise his budding international career. So he told his girlfriend that the relationship was off - it had to be.

In a moment of remarkable poignancy, the girl accepted her boyfriend's decision but asked - as a token of his past commitment - that he promise to come to her funeral one day. Sarwan promised. Before the end of the England tour the girl, who had been in perfect health, suddenly and unexpectedly died from an undetected virus. Sarwan left the tour and flew home to be at her funeral.

As he battled to come to terms with his raging emotions, Sarwan returned to international cricket vowing to make a success of himself in honour of his lost lady. He dedicated his career to her.

Of such rock is Sarwan hewn. When West Indies require a man for a scrap over the next few weeks, you can be sure he will be the first in line.

posted by Jonathan | 8:20 AM 0 comments

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