Pakistan, West Indies players honour late Sir Garfield Sobers ahead of warm-up match

PORT OF SPAIN: The players of the Pakistan men's cricket team and West Indies Select XI observed a minute-long silence to pay tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers before the commencement of their four-day practice match here at the Queen's Park Cricket Club on Saturday.

In a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Facebook, the players from both sides were seen lined up to observe a minute's silence to pay their homage to legendary all-rounder Sobers, who breathed his last on Friday.

"Pakistan and West Indies players paid tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers before the start of the warm-up match," the PCB captioned the video.

"Both teams observed a minute's silence and wore black armbands in honour of the legendary cricketer."

For the unversed, Sobers represented West Indies in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets at 34.03 runs each, and was chosen in Wisden's Five Cricketers of the 20th Century alongside Australia's Donald Bradman, who hailed the all-rounder as "the greatest cricketer of all time".

Sobers also held the distinction of being the first cricketer ever to hit six sixes in an over, achieving the feat while playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire, with Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash being the unfortunate bowler.

Soon after, Cricket West Indies (CWI) broke the unfortunate news of his demise on Friday; several cricket boards, including the PCB, paid tribute on social media.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board is saddened by the passing of cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers," the PCB wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"It was a privilege to welcome Sir Garfield to Pakistan during the West Indies' tour in 1959, where his brilliance graced our shores and his illustrious career left a lasting impression on the cricketing fraternity.

"We extend our sincere condolences to [Cricket West Indies], the Caribbean cricket community, his family and loved ones."