Mandela asks for Lara

“WHERE IS LARA?” This question was uppermost on the mind of former South African president Nelson Mandela when he arrived at Piarco International Airport on Thursday night. As he greeted Government Ministers, their spouses and members of the diplomatic corps who had assembled at the airport to greet him, Mandela asked Prime Minister Patrick Manning where the world cricket record holder was and seemed slightly disappointed to hear Lara was not in the country.

Lara, who is currently in St Lucia with the West Indies team preparing to take on England in the Fourth and Fifth One-day Internationals, publicly lamented that he would be unable to meet Mandela. Barely, one week ago, “Laramania” swept Trinidad and Tobago as nationwide celebrations were held in recognition of the West Indies skipper regaining the world cricket record when he scored 400 not out in Antigua.