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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The West Indies Cricket Board has showered the West Indies cricket team with praise following their sensational performance to win the International Cricket Council’s World T20 2012 title on Sunday night. The West Indies beat host nation Sri Lanka by 36 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium to win the title for the first time.

In a congratulatory message to the team, Dr Julian Hunte, president of the WICB, praised the amazing effort of everyone in the squad and said the victory was a great gift to West Indies supporters all over the world.

“On behalf of all West Indians I want to say ‘thank you’ to the team for what you did for the people and for West Indies cricket. Sunday, October 7, 2012 will go down in history and one of the great days in West Indies cricket,” Hunte said.

“Huge congratulations to captain Darren Sammy and the players and head coach Ottis Gibson, team manager Richie Richardson and the support staff for an amazing effort. It was a job well done and the entire Caribbean along with West Indies cricket lovers are extremely proud of this team. It was a joy to see such a clinical performance on the field of play.

“This was an outstanding display of tenacity, fight, courage, will-power and belief. To come to Sri Lanka and beat them on their home turf in the grand final, when all was on the line, is truly remarkable,” Hunte added.

“The entire region was behind this team as they left home to compete to participate in this high-profile tournament. From the start there were great expectations and the players went out and delivered in a major way.”

The ICC World T20 trophy victory is the fourth major international title for West Indies. Clive Lloyd’s all-conquering team won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975 and repeated in 1979. Brian Lara’s team won the ICC Champions Trophy in England in 2004. The West Indies is the only team to win the 50-over World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the World Twenty20.

“West Indies cricket has a rich history and we are proud of what those who have played before have done for us and what they achieved. Now, in this era, we have a new group of champions who have given their all and made us proud,” Hunte said. “Today, we salute our champions.”

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