West Indies mourns Morton`s death

Port-of-Spain: The West Indies cricket fraternity mourned the tragic death of cricketer Runako Morton who died in an accident March 4.

He was killed Sunday night at Chase Village, Chaguanas. His death has generated an outpouring of sympathy and love for the 33-year old Nevisian who lives in Princes Town, south Trinidad. He was returning home after representing the Queen`s Park Cricket Club in their Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Premiership match against Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) team. Sports Minister Anil Roberts said that his ministry and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago mourn "the loss of this young man, dynamic cricketer, husband and father and commiserate with the many close friends and family he leaves behind." Julien Hunte, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, said that Runako`s passing, still in the prime of his life, leaves us all in shock. "He will be remembered as a fierce competitor on the field who gave no quarter whether he was playing for the West Indies, Leeward Islands, Nevis or Trinidad and Tobago." Azzim Bassarath, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, said Runako was a cricketer who was blessed with a lot of talent and had a lot to add to his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago. "He will certainly be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to see him play and to interact with him," Bassarath said. The management and members of the Queen`s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Runako. Runako joined the Club as a playing member six years ago, and has been a stalwart on the field. He was named as one of the club`s five cricketers of the year, five times out of six. Dudnath Ramkessoon, chairman of the National Selection Committee, said that he was a competent batsman and excellent fieldsman. "He was the great competitor who made his mark in the short time that he graced the local cricket landscape". Runako played 15 Test matches, 56 ODIs and seven T20s since making his debut in 2002, a decade ago. He had to his credit 573 runs in Tests and 1,519 in ODIs. IANS