Sunil Gavaskar Wants Players To Use Black Armbands To Pay Tributes To Departed Souls From Cricketing Fraternity

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has called for the use of black armbands to pay tribute to the players, who have passed away. The same has been a trend for a long while now; however, Sunil Gavaskar has witnessed it disappearing. Gavaskar wishes that black armbands must be used for every departed soul of the cricketing activity and not extended to some.

New Zealand’s oldest living cricketer John Reid was amongst the many who passed away from the cricketing fraternity in recent times. A few days ago, Najeeb Tarakai, who played a lone One-day international and a few T20Is, died due to a road accident. Before that, former Australian batsman and reputed commentator Dean Jones did not survive a heart attack with the present and former cricketers mourning for him.

Sunil Gavaskar reminded that John Reid was one of New Zealand’s greatest in the 1950s and was also an ICC match referee. Gavaskar pointed out surprisingly and disappointingly no cricketer showed respect for Najeeb Tarakai, who died at a young age. The 125-Test veteran emphasized that whether or not a cricketer has played many or only a few games, they must be honoured since they belong to the cricketing family. Therefore, the legendary batsman wants that every player deserves equal respect.

“New Zealand’s former captain John Reid also left us earlier in the week. He was one of New Zealand’s greats in the 1950s and was also ICC match referee. A few days earlier, Najeeb Tarakai, who played a solitary one-day game and a few T20 internationals for Afghanistan, died after he was hit by a car while crossing the road. “Disappointingly but unsurprisingly, no player wore a black arm band to show respect to the departed souls. It appears that black arm bands will be worn only for some players but not every player. Whether you have played one game or hundreds of games for a country, the player belongs to the cricketing family and despite any differences perceived or imagined, his or her passing away should be mourned by the fraternity,” Sunil Gavaskar said as quoted by Mid-day.

Sunil Gavaskar pays a rich tribute to Kishore Bhimani:

The 70-year old credited Kishore Bhimani, who was a former commentator and sports writer, for helping in the formation of the Indian Cricketers’ Association in India’s tour of the West Indies in 1976. Sunil Gavaskar recalled that Kishore would sit with him on the flight to the Caribbean Islands and discuss the creation of the association and how to go about it.

“Kishore also helped in drawing up the letter to the BCCI when the Indian Cricketers Association was first formed on the India tour of West Indies in 1976. On the flight between the Caribbean Islands, he would sit with me and discuss the formation of the Association and how to go about it,” he added.

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