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There's not one symbol set up by the West Indies Cricket Board (WIBC) at the moment which perpetuates the outstanding achievements of Sir Garfield Sobers.

Quite frankly, it's unbelievable but then again someone might nudge me and tell me to get real because since his retirement the greatest cricketer of all time has never been involved with West Indies cricket at board level.

He has never been manager, coach or anything of the like and you are only left to ponder the folly of it all. Surely, you can't consider it an oversight because the regional cricketing powers would have had ample opportunity to use his expertise in several areas that can help in the development of the sport.

And please don't tell me, as I've heard on some occasions, that Sir Garry has never really been close to the sport in the West Indies since retiring. Do you honestly believe that if he was approached to play a key role in some administrative or technical capacity that he would have refused?

I would hate to believe this when the same Sir Garry has been known to offer advice and tips to players in an informal setting. Didn't he go into the nets with the team when they toured South Africa back in 1998?

Only in a West Indian environment would someone of Sir Garry's standing be treated this way. Remember the situation surrounding Sir Vivian Richards' application for the coaching job? Other countries would have been proud to produce people of this ilk. Were they, for instance, Australians they would have been glorified like the late Sir Donald Bradman. But that's the way we are, we only appreciate our icons when they are gone.

Still, I don't believe it's too late to put some wrong things right. The chance will present itself when the West Indies play Sri Lanka in the forthcoming series.

The trophy being played for should be named in Sir Garry's honour for he would have contributed in an indelible way to the development of cricket in both countries.

He did some coaching with the Sri Lankans in the mid and late 1970s when they were contemplating making a major impact in world cricket.

We have all witnessed the steady improvement of Sri Lanka in both forms of the game although they have gained more respect in limited overs play. Sir Garry's influence would have been vital in the foundation years and there can be no quarrel with the trophy bearing his name.

Only recently we had the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy at stake between the West Indies and South Africa and the Clive Lloyd Trophy for West Indies and Zimbabwe. Both gentlemen deserve the accolade. Sir Garry certainly needs to have his place in the sun as well.

This is not about insularity, it's about giving the respect due to the man who is at the top of your cricketing tree. How can that be ignored and not appreciated in the manner in which it should. It's time to put that wrong right.

The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy West Indies versus Sri Lanka.

© The Barbados Nation