Tributes flow for late umpire Shafarali

His funeral service was held on Saturday at the St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Princess Town.

Veteran cricket administrator Lalman Kowlessar described Shafarali as an icon of local cricket who devoted his life to the game, and was serving as an administrator in the South-East Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) up to last year.

Kowlessar, the second vice-president of the TTCB said in his estimation Shafarali was the most knowledgeable person in the laws of cricket, which he used to elevate the ranks of the umpires through his meticulous training and mentorship.

“Many leading umpires, past and present owe a great debt to Clarence Shafarali including Basheer Ali, Enite Ali, Danesh Ramdhanie, Zahid Bassarath and Peter Wilson, who recently retired after rising to ICC Test level,” said Kowlessar.

“He was a fantastic individual and though he was a hard taskmaster, one could readily ascertain that he knew what he was about. He will also be fondly remembered for leading the charge as president of the Umpires Council to take umpiring into the rural districts, helping to attract fresh talent all around the country,” said Kowlessar.

Commendations and sympathy on Shafarali’s passing was also echoed by Dr Allen Sammy, long-serving administrator who is the first vice-president of the TTCB and who remembers the Princess Town native as being one of the driving forces behind the first local Cricket Board which assumed control of the local game in 1980.

Sammy said people will associate Shafarali with cricket umpiring, to which he devoted the major part of his life, but he was also a school principal who later became a schools supervisor and was also actively involved in social work especially in the Cunjal, Barrackpore district where he resided.

His involvement with the Yorkshire Club helped them participate in the highest level of local cricket and he was also a valued member up to three years ago, of the National League which administrates the top tier of the game in Trinidad.

“His life was marked by hard work and achievement, always improving and pulling others along with him, better equipped to contribute to the development of his community and the sport he loved so much. He will be sadly missed,” said Sammy.

Also, expressing sympathy with Shafarali’s family on his demise was president of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath, himself a former umpire and vice-president of the local governing umpires organisation.

He said the deceased had distinguished himself as a true servant of cricket who also displayed sterling and exemplary qualities as a teacher, community leader, cricket umpire and administrator.

“Clarence Shafarali has left a void which will be very hard to fill.

He devoted his life to serving others without complaint. Many have benefitted tremendously from his advice and mentorship and society on the whole is a better place because of his contribution as a true patriot,” said Bassarath.

The TTCB president said throughout his life Shafarali was associated with the Cricket Board and he added value to the organisation, gaining admiration from all who came in contact with him for his perseverance and dedication to duty, remaining on the field of play when others in his position would have departed to the pavilion long ago. He has recently given an acknowledgement award by the Umpires and Scorers’ Council, now headed by Parasram Singh, and also the TTCB for his long and meritorious service to the game.