Lloyd email boosts West Indies team

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – APRIL 21: Brian Lara of West Indies walks out with Clive Lloyd during the ICC Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between West Indies and England at the Kensington Oval on April 21, 2007 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Colombo, Oct 7 – The West Indies’ legendary cricketer Clive Lloyd has written a letter to the team pledging his support for Sunday’s World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka.

Lloyd, now 68, shot to prominence after leading the 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 current West Indies skipper Darren Sammy said Lloyd’s support was 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.”

The Caribbean side will be chasing their second ICC title in eight years after beating England in the 2004 Champions Trophy final at the Oval.