Contractor invited to WI to witness formation of blood banks

Former India captain Nari Contractor invited to the West Indies to witness the formation of blood banks named after Sir Frank Worrell, his rival skipper in 1961-62

Contractor invited to WI to witness formation of blood banks

Former India captain Nari Contractor invited to the West Indies to witness the formation of blood banks named after Sir Frank Worrell, his rival skipper in 1961-62

Nari Contractor

Contractor, who turns 75 on March 7, will be on a March 9 flight to Trinidad to be part of Sir Frank Worrell's 42nd death anniversary.

First black captain

The former India captain has been invited by the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Committee to witness the formation of blood banks named after the West Indies legend in various islands. Worrell, West Indies' first black captain, died of leukaemia in 1967. He was Contractor's rival captain in the West Indies in 1961-62 when the Mumbai man suffered a near-fatal head injury while facing paceman Charlie Griffith in an India vs Barbados match.
The injury caused the end of Contractor's Test career.

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi took over the captaincy and led India till 1969-70. He returned at the helm for the 1974-75 series against the West Indies.

Worrell was one of the several cricketing personalities who donated blood to help Contractor survive. "It's a privilege to be invited. It feels nice to be remembered. I see this as my tribute to Sir Frank Worrell," Contractor told SUNDAY MiD DAY.

Mixed feelings

And how does he feel to return to the Caribbean? "I have mixed feelings. It (1961-62 trip) was not a happy tour, but I take things in my stride. What I am really looking forward to is meeting some of the old West Indian players like Garry Sobers, Gerry Alexander and Willie Rodriguez."

Contractor will also deliver the Sir Frank Worrell lecture in Barbados during his trip. He plans to speak on technology in cricket.

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