Brian Lara on sir Gary sobers

Yesterday, July 28th, Sir Garfield Sobers celebrated his 89th birthday — and there was absolutely no way I was going to miss spending part of that special day with him.

For me, Sir Gary is not only the greatest cricketer who has ever lived, but also one of Barbados’ living national Heroes. To be in his presence is to sit with history, to witness grace and genius in its most human form.

As a young boy in Trinidad, he was the unreachable figure I dreamt of emulating. Later, when I had the honour of wearing the maroon cap myself, I came to realise just how much he had done — how high he had lifted West Indies cricket and how deeply he had inspired an entire region.

What Sir Gary achieved is immeasurable, but what’s even more profound is how he continues to give — through his wisdom, his humility, and his unwavering pride in who we are as Caribbean people. Our conversations, whether lighthearted or profound, are moments I will always treasure. He remains, to this day, a guiding light for me.

So yesterday, as we celebrated his 89th birthday, I wasn’t just honouring a cricketing great. I was celebrating a friend, a mentor, and a man whose legacy lives in all of us who have dared to dream because he showed us it was possible.

Happy birthday, Sir Gary. With all my respect and love.