Kallicharran awarded British Empire Medal

Former West Indies batsman Alvin Kallicharran has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his contribution to the sport.

Kallicharran, who served as West Indies captain from 1977-1978, was one of 1,148 people to make the Queen’s New Year’s honours list.

The 69-year-old Guyanese-born cricketer represented the regional team from 1972 to 1981 where he served as a left-handed batsman and part-time right-arm off-spinner.

Kallicharan, who averaged 44.43 in Tests with a top score 187, was named Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1983.  In One Day Internationals he averaged 34.41 with a high score of 78.  He was also part of the successful Windies team that won back-to-back World Cups in 1975 and 1979.

He also found success with Warwickshire in English County cricket. While playing against minor county Oxfordshire in the 1984 one day Natwest Trophy he scored 206 and took 6-32. The BEM was established in 1922 to replace the Medal of the Order of the British Empire.

Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “BEM”, divided into civil and military medals in a similar way to the Order of the British Empire itself. (Sportsmax)