President and CEO of WIPA, Dinanath Ramnarine, today sent a congratulatory message on behalf of the organisation to Shivnarine Chanderpaul who will tomorrow become the most capped West Indies Test player. Chanderpaul, who has played 132 Test Matches for the West Indies is now level with former Captain, Courtney Walsh. Tomorrow’s match will take him to 133. Chanderpaul is also the second highest scorer in Tests for the West Indies and has scored 9,228 runs at an average of 48.56 with 22 centuries.
Commenting on Chanderpaul’s contribution to West Indies Cricket, Mr. Ramnarine said, “Shiv is more than the Energizer-bunny of West Indies Cricket. It is true that he keeps going and going. But there is more to him than longevity. He is a fighter and hence his nickname “Tiger”. He is a serious and dedicated Caribbean professional and a role model for every young cricketer. He has become a legend in his own time and has earned our respect as a player and as a person. We wish him well and know that he will always do his best for his team and for the West Indies.”
Former record holder Courtney Walsh added the following tribute to the new record holder: “Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone for Shiv. He has certainly played the game in the right way and has shown great dedication and commitment to the team and the region, always displaying true determination and fighting spirit throughout his career. I am proud to have held the record for the length of time that I did – not many bowlers stay in the game for so long – but I am happy that Shiv is the one who has broken it, having still been a member of the team when he was just starting out.”