Cricketers working in films is no longer a new news. Some worked in films after retiring from cricket, while some got into films while still playing. This trend has reached from Salim Durrani to Harbhajan Singh. Who is the first test cricketer who appeared in a commercial Hindi film? Who is the first and only cricketer to whom a Hindi commercial film was dedicated? The answer to these questions will surprise you because the film is from India but the cricketer is a foreigner.

The answer to both these questions is – former West Indies cricket captain Sir Frank Worrell. Worrell, who is loved and respected throughout the cricketing world, is also known in cricket as the first regular black captain of the West Indies and the cricketer who donated blood for the surgery of India's captain Nari Contractor in 1962, after she was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. This was a life-saving operation for Nari and blood was badly needed at that time.

His cricket record- 51 Tests, 3860 runs, 9 centuries and 69 wickets. In 1967, Frank Worrell died of leukemia- he was only 42 years old then. After his death, in the same year, a film 'Around the World' by the famous Hindi film hero of that time, Raj Kapoor, was released. The producer-director of the film was Pachi and when the film started, a message from Pachi came on the screen that this film is dedicated to the affectionate memory of 'Sir Frank Worrell, world famous test cricketer, Dean of Trinidad University, a good friend, a person with a cheerful nature and guest artist-actor of this film. His death has taken away a friend, philosopher and guide from us', everyone was shocked.

Till then no one had any idea what Frank Worrell's connection was with this film. It was only while watching the film that we came to know that when the people of the film reached the Caribbean during their world tour, Worrell was also seen in some scenes there. A drunk Om Prakash was with him on the screen and he introduced Worrell to Mehmood. He had funny dialogues like calling Milkha Singh India's fastest bowler, Shammi Kapoor India's greatest wicketkeeper and Mohammad Rafi India's opening bat who always remains not out. Worrell bore such absurd dialogues with his smile without getting upset. The sad thing is that before Frank Worrell could see himself on the silver screen, he died. That is why the film begins with the intertitle 'Dedicated to the sweet memories of Sir Frank Worrell'.

In those days, this romantic comedy film was talked about not only for showing beautiful scenes from many countries of the world (in those days very few films were shot outside India), but it was also the first Indian film to be shot in 70 mm widescreen format and with a 6-track stereophonic soundtrack. Anyway, for those who knew about cricket and Frank Worrell, this film became another introduction.

After retiring from cricket, Sir Frank Worrell became a coach and put the careers of many players including Clive Lloyd on the right track. He was so respected that he got a seat in the Jamaican Senate thrice. He was one of the three famous 'W's' of cricket and the first of these three to be knighted. The Cricket Association of Bengal till date organizes 'Frank Worrell Day' in his memory and organizes blood donation camps on that day. He was the first player in whose memory a memorial service was organized in England, at the historic Westminster Abbey in London. This itself gives an idea of ​​the respect shown towards him.