Former West Indies all-rounder Bernard Julien passes away at 75

Former West Indies cricketer Bernard Julien, part of the team's first-ever World Cup triumph in 1975, has passed away in Northern Trinidad at the age of 75.

A right-hand batter and a lively seamer, Julien played 24 Tests and 12 ODIs between 1973 and 1977, scoring two centuries and taking 50 Test wickets. He was a key performer in the 1975 World Cup, where his four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and New Zealand helped West Indies reach the final, and he contributed an unbeaten 26 in the title clash against Australia at Lord's.

Julien had also enjoyed previous success at Lord's, including scoring a match-winning 121 against England in a Test match in 1973. He also picked up a five-wicket haul at the venue the following year. His international career came to an abrupt end in the early 1980s when he joined the rebel tour to apartheid-era South Africa.

"As we honour Bernard Julien, we also recognise the importance of reflection and inclusion. The time has come to view that chapter of our history not through exclusion but through understanding," Dr Kishore Shallow, the President of Cricket West Indies, said in an official statement.

"To the family, friends, and loved ones of Bernard Julien, we extend our deepest condolences. His passing reminds us that a life devoted to purpose never truly leaves us. Cricket West Indies stands with you in this moment of loss, and we hope Bernard knew he was valued and loved by the cricketing family he helped to shape, and that he found peace knowing his contribution will always endure."