DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle says he will remember late teammate Runako Morton as having “a heart of a lion” and said he always wanted the Nevisian in any team he led.
Morton died tragically late Sunday night in a vehicular accident on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Chase Village, central Trinidad, hours after representing his local club Queen’s Park in a match here.
“We lost a true warrior. WI Cricketer Runako Morton – May his soul rest in peace! Our memories together live on! My condolences to his family,” Gayle tweeted on the online social networking service, Twitter.
“Really gonna miss the Champion! Heart of a Lion. I know he will smile when I smile! Luv always Morton!
“Morton is [one] Cricketer I fought hard to keep in the WI team. As captain at the time, I wish I had 10 Mortons to lead on a cricket field!! KING!”
Gayle is currently in South Africa for the South Africa Twenty20 Challenge, where he has been contracted to play for the Dolphins.
The Jamaican, who led West Indies in 20 Tests and 53 One-Day Internationals between 2007 and 2010, said Morton was also a fun-loving individual who brought a light side to the dressing room.
“Never a dull moment around Morton. I would just look at Morton & burst out of laugh! He would pressure me about kids an [everyone],” Gayle tweeted.
“Morton [has] been through a lot in his life. We all make mistakes! But he was making changes to be a better man. We [are] like father & son … that’s trust.”
Morton, a gritty right-hander, played 15 Test matches, 56 One-day internationals and seven Twenty20s for the West Indies after making his international debut in 2002.
