Windies and Sri Lanka to play for Sobers/Tissera Trophy

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – West Indies cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers will be honoured during the upcoming Test Series between West Indies and Sri Lanka.

 

The two-match series will be played for the Sobers/Tissera trophy as tribute to the former West Indies allrounder and captain and Michael Tissera, the former Sri Lanka captain.

 

The announcement was made by Sri Lanka Cricket at the official pre-series launch on Tuesday night. The two teams will play Test matches at the Galle International Stadium (October 14-18) in the coastal town of Galle; and the P Sara Oval (October 22-26) in the capital, Colombo.

 

Speaking at the launch West Indies captain Jason Holder said naming the trophy after Sir Garry, was a “special touch”.

 

“Having the trophy named after Sir Garfield Sobers is something truly special. He was one of the greatest to play the game and he still makes a major contribution to the game. Only recently he joined us in Barbados and wished everyone the very best for this tour of Sri Lanka. It is always good to see him and interact with him and it would be great for us to take home the trophy with his name on it,” Holder said.

 

“We have players in the team who are eager to do very well for West Indies cricket. We all look up to Sir Garry and the legends of West Indies cricket who paved the way for us to be here. We will look to play in the true spirit of the game and look to emulate the great things of our past heroes.”

 

Sir Garry, 79, is rated as the greatest allrounder of all time. The left-hander played 93 Test matches for West Indies between 1954 and 1974. He scored 8,032 runs with 26 centuries and took 235 wickets. He also held 109 catches.

 

Tissera, 75, is a high-respected former Sri Lanka captain and team manager. He represented the country in the pre-Test era and played in the first Cricket World Cup in 1975.

 

SQUAD

Jason Holder (Captain)

Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice Captain)

Devendra Bishoo

Jermaine Blackwood

Carlos Brathwaite

Darren Bravo

Rajindra Chandrika

Shane Dowrich

Shannon Gabriel

Shai Hope

Denesh Ramdin

Kemar Roach

Marlon Samuels

Jerome Taylor

Jomel Warrican

 

SCHEDULE OF MATCHES

October

Thu 8 to Sat 10: vs SLC President’s XI – Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo

Wed 14 to Sun 18: 1st Test – International Cricket Stadium, Galle

Thu 22 to Mon 26: 2nd Test – P. Sara Oval, Colombo

Thu 29: vs SLC President’s XI – Colts, Colombo

November

Sun 1: 1st ODI – Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (day/night)

Wed 4: 2nd ODI – Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (day/night)

Sat 7: 3rd ODI – International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele (day/night)

Mon 9: 1st T20 International – International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

Thu 12: 2nd T20 International – Premadasa Stadium, Colombo