Lara an honest cricketer says manager

West Indies batsman Brian Lara who is known for “walking” when he thinks that he is out has been described by national team manager Omar Khan as one of the most honest cricketers around.

Lara was apparently caught behind for a “duck” in the second One-Day International but New Zealand  umpire Billy Bowden did not send him. The champion left-hander went on to score a majestic 116 to lead his team to 312 for four wickets. It is now history that Sri Lanka still went on to take the match and the Cable and Wireless rubber 2-0 with one match to play today. Lara has been criticised in some quarters for being dishonest. Television commentator and former Test player Tony Greig constantly spoke of the incident during the second match. An angry Khan yesterday refuted the claim. “Brian Lara has shown the highest level of honesty during his international cricket career and must stop saying foolishness. He is a sportsman of the highest integrity and in the past never refused to walk.

“The most he did at uncertain times was to inquire from the fieldsmen whether the ball was caught cleanly and once the answered is in the affirmative, he was on his bike,” said Khan. Khan was manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team when Lara played in the Carib Beer Series regional tournament. “What I think happened was that Brian thought he did not touch the delivery and that’s why he did not take on the appeal. Television replays suggested that he got a faint edge and one cannot kill him for not observing it,” commented Khan. ”Why when batsmen from other teams make the same mistake we never dwell on it?” questioned the PowerGen officer. Lara has been a positive influence on the members of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team, said Khan. “When Lara is around our national cricketers he makes a positive contribution and leads by example. He teaches our youngsters the value of fairplay and to think that he was a cheat is just not on. Give the man a break,” said Khan.