COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies captain Darren Sammy revealed Saturday that legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd had written to the team pledging his support for yesterday’s World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka.
Lloyd, now 68, shot to prominence after leading West Indies to back-to-back 50-over World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979.
Those victories remain the Caribbean side’s last success in a World Cup and Sammy said his support had been important to his unit.
“This morning I got an email from Mr. Lloyd saying he was very proud of what the team is doing and that the Caribbean people are very happy,” Sammy told reporters.
“[He told us] just to go out and win. He also reminded me that the only time success comes before work is in the dictionary and urged us to continue in the way we have been doing.
“Many people are rooting for us this time. The words from a legend like Mr. Lloyd are the biggest motivation for the guys who will go out and play in the final.”
West Indies reached yesterday’s final by pummelling Australia by 74 runs in Friday’s second semi-final, with talismanic opener Chris Gayle batting through the innings for an unbeaten 75.
The knock was his third half-century of the tournament and took him past 200 runs for the tournament as the leading Windies batsman.
