Darren Sammy honoured in St Lucia after Beausejour stadium renaming
Friday 8 April 2016 09:10, UK
St Lucia have renamed their Beausejour ground the Darren Sammy National Cricket Ground in honour of the West Indies captain.
Sammy led the West Indies to a second World Twenty20 championship on Sunday when they produced a sensational finish to beat England by four wickets.
Needing 19 runs from the final over, Carlos Brathwaite hit Ben Stokes for four successive sixes to spark wild celebrations among West Indies players.
St Lucia's Prime Minister Kenny D. Anthony made the announcement of the stadium's name change at a welcome reception to mark Sammy, and team-mate Johnson Charles, returning to the island.
Charles is also being honoured, with his name being placed on one of the stands, while he is also due to receive a plot of land.
"I am truly honoured, I am humbled and blessed," Sammy said.
"Thank you, we always know St. Lucians love their own and the love and respect and admiration I have just received at the airport, oh my God, thank you very much."
Sammy was critical of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in the wake of Sunday's victory, and received a reprimand after saying he felt 'disrespected', referring to a lengthy pay dispute the team's players have been involved in.
The board has reacted positively to the news from St Lucia, issuing a statement which read: "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. The honour is fitting, and we salute the players."
