THE Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has extended its condolences to the family of former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Rangy Nanan, who passed away early Wednesday morning at the Couva Hospital.
Nanan also captained the national senior team and at the time of his retirement in 1991 was the leading wicket-taker in regional competition.
He was 62 years old.
Azim Bassarath, president of the TTCB said on Wednesday he was saddened to learn of the passing of Nanan whom he described as one of the nation’s outstanding cricketers and certainly among the best spinners to emerge in an era when pace bowling was dominant.
“Rangy was one of a kind who will be remembered for his tight control with the ball on any kind of surface, and who was no rabbit with the bat, clouting the ball to all parts of the field,” said Bassarath.
He hailed the Preysal-born all-rounder as a tribute to the gentleman’s game who carried himself with dignity, exemplifying the ideals of fair-play and respect for his opponents on and off the field.
Bassarath said that Nanan will be best remembered for being the last Trinidad and Tobago captain to lead the national cricket team to victory in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-Day Tournament then called the Shell Shield.
Nanan played one Test for the West Indies, against Pakistan in Faisalabad, from December 8 to 12, 1980 when he took four wickets with his impeccable control, and snared two important catches as the Caribbean cricketers won by 156 runs.
It is important to note that Nanan was picked on a regional team whose bowling arsenal comprised bowlers of the calibre of Colin Croft, Malcolm Marshall and Sylvester Clarke.
In his 19-year playing career Nanan turned out for 94 First Class matches, scoring 2 607 runs and taking 366 wickets, in addition to 35 List ‘A’ fixtures. He also had one hard-hitting century to his name.
But his best bowling came in the 1980-1982 regional season when he took 32 wickets in just five matches in the Shell Shield and retired as the leading wicket-taker in 1991.
The funeral of the former policeman is yet to be finalised. Nanan is survived by his devoted wife Martha, and two sons. (TTCB)