KARACHI:
The cricketing world lost one of its greatest all-rounders with the passing of Sir Garfield (Gary) Sobers of the West Indies on July 17, 2026. A pioneer of aggressive stroke play, Sobers revolutionised West Indies cricket and left an enduring legacy on the game worldwide. He was an all-rounder far ahead of his time, combining flawless batting techniques with outstanding bowling and exceptional fielding.
During a career spanning more than two decades, he played 93 Tests, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78. He secured 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries, with a highest score of 365 not out. His innings against Pakistan at Kingston in 1958 remained the highest individual Test score for more than three decades until Brian Lara surpassed it in 1994. In first-class cricket, Sobers created history in 1968 by becoming the first batsman to hit six sixes in a single over. He belonged to an era when cricketers relied on skill and consistency rather than the commercial glamour that surrounds the modern game. His versatility with both bat and ball, coupled with his exemplary sportsmanship, made him a role model for generations of cricketers. Even decades after his retirement, his achievements continue to serve as the benchmark by which great all-rounders are judged.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in the 1975 New Year Honours. Although the award generated debate because Barbados had stopped recommending British honours, the country’s prime minister welcomed the recognition. In 1974, The New York Times described Sobers as “the world’s top cricketer.” The West Indies Cricket Board later installed his statue at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Following the news of his death, cricketers from Pakistan and around the world paid tribute, describing him as one of the greatest players the game has ever produced.
Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
Sujawal
