The Caribbean cricketing community is in mourning this week following the unexpected death of Norman Gilbert, a beloved former leader of Grenada’s cricket governing body and long-serving member of the Windward Islands Cricket Board. Dr. Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has released an official statement extending heartfelt sympathies to Gilbert’s loved ones and the regional cricketing fraternity after the sudden passing.
In his address, Shallow highlighted the widespread respect Gilbert earned across the sport throughout his decades of service, pointing to his well-documented integrity, quiet humility, and rare ability to motivate everyone from emerging young players to senior cricket administrators and industry stakeholders. Shallow emphasized that Gilbert’s impact stretched far beyond his official roles, cementing his status as one of the most influential stewards of the game in the Eastern Caribbean.
“On behalf of the entire Cricket West Indies organization, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Norman’s family, his close friends, and every member of the cricketing community across Grenada and the wider region,” Shallow wrote in the statement.
Shallow remembered Gilbert as a deeply committed, forward-thinking leader who served cricket with exceptional distinction throughout his tenure. His consistent, unshakable commitment to growing and elevating cricket in Grenada, paired with his authentic enthusiasm for lifting up the sport at every level from grassroots to elite competition, has left a permanent, meaningful mark on the region’s cricketing ecosystem.
Notably, Shallow noted that Gilbert’s contributions went far beyond the day-to-day work of sports administration. Gilbert was a true custodian of cricket who firmly believed in the game’s unique ability to bring divided communities together and improve life for residents across the island. “At this incredibly difficult time, the entire CWI family stands in full solidarity with the Grenada Cricket Association and the people of Grenada as they grieve this enormous loss,” Shallow added. “Norman’s legacy will endure long through the countless lives he touched, and the robust foundation he helped build for cricket in Grenada. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”