West Indies most successful Test captain, Sir Clive Lloyd, has taken legal against the Guyana Chronicle for an article it published earlier this year.
The article titled, ‘Holder has outlived his usefulness in the position, says Lloyd’, carried a statement attributed to Sir Clive, but his Attorney Ralph Thorne, QC, is claiming the legendary cricketer never spoke to the reporter.
The article, published on March 13, 2021, claimed that Sir Clive had reportedly said Jason Holder, who was earlier this year relieved of the West Indies Test captaincy, had “outlived his usefulness in the position.”
Sir Clive subsequently stated that he never spoke to the writer, as he debunked claims made in the article.
It was under Sir Clive’s tenure that Holder was appointed West Indies captain six years ago, and the two have publicly spoken about their cordial relationship.
Sir Clive’s Attorney, speaking on the Mason and Guest Radio Show in Barbados on Tuesday evening, touched on the matter and the next course of action.
“It is with great honour that I am representing Sir Clive Lloyd in association with Guyanese Counsel. We are pressing ahead with that case on behalf of one of the great West Indians of the last 100 years,” Thorne said.
“This case will be pursued with vigour to its very logical end, and we will insist in a very public forum and in a very public manner that justice should come to Sir Clive Lloyd.”
Appearing on a Mason and Guest Show after the article was published, Sir Clive declared: “Never said anything like that! I find it so disrespectful that people can do as they like, put your name to something and say you have said that. No, that is wrong! I have never said anything like that!”
The Chronicle subsequently retracted the article and issued an apology to Sir Clive.
Meanwhile, Thorne labelled Sir Clive a West Indian hero, and the article is most “unkind” to the legendary Guyanese.
“You’re not going to meet a more distinguished West Indian than Sir Clive Lloyd, and therefore newspapers must be very careful how they portray our heroes. Sir Clive Lloyd is a West Indian hero, an authentic West Indian hero,” Thorne stressed.
Sir Clive Lloyd is one of the most respected former cricketers. Apart from his success in leadership in the Test format, he led West Indies to 50-over World Cup successes in 1975 and 1979.
