St Lucia ground renamed after Windies skipper Sammy

ST LUCIA: Darren Sammy’s role in leading the West Indies to the ICC World Twenty20-2016 title has been recognised by St Lucia, the country of his birth, as it was announced that the island’s main cricket ground would be renamed in his honour.

St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony announced on Tuesday, at a 'welcome reception', that the Beausejour Stadium will be renamed in the honour of Darren Sammy, the side's inspirational captain.

The ground, which has played host to international games since 2002, will henceforth be called the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

The stadium which has a 15, 000 seating capacity was completed in 2002 and had hosted domestic matches for the Windward Islands cricket team.

Sammy was the first cricketer to represent West Indies from St. Lucia when he made his One-Day International (ODI) debut against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004.

Johnson Charles, the opener, is the other St. Lucian in the West Indies squad and will have a grand stand named after him at the venue.

Charles will also receive a plot of land on St Lucia, a Caribbean island, most famed as a tourist destination.

Sammy led his side to glory in a thrilling finish against England in Kolkata where Carlos Brathwaite hit four successive sixes in the last over to seal a four-wicketwin.West Indies thus became the first team to win the World T20 title twice.  

Sammy was also the captain when they beat then hosts Sri Lanka in the 2012 final in Colombo.

The West Indies Cricket Board congratulated Sammy and Charles for the honour their home country St Lucia bestowed on them.

“Both are fitting tributes to the hard work and dedication of the players, who just completed an exciting victory to win the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 Men’s title”, a WICB release stated. “The honour is fitting and we salute the players”.