It wasn't just the disappointment of being snubbed by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises that Brian Lara had to deal with yesterday. It was a huge blow for the former West Indian captain to lose his childhood coach and mentor Joey Carew. The former West Indies opener and selector, Carew (73), who recently got discharged from hospital, passed away at his residence in Trinidad on Saturday night. The family was not sure about the exact cause of death. "It may have been due to artery blockages. It happened in his sleep," Carew's son Michael informed MiD DAY yesterday.u00a0 Carew's death came as a double blow for Lara. He was not picked by any of the 10 franchises even on the final day of the IPL auction in Bangalore yesterday.

"Joey's death is by far a bigger shock to Brian. I don't think he would even be thinking about the IPL auction after hearing this news," said Michael.

Close bond
"Brian was like a son to my father. He was very close to him," he added.

In the Oxford Dictionary of Cricketers, Christopher Martin-Jenkins wrote: "Perhaps his greatest legacy to West Indies cricket, however, lies in the advice and encouragement he gave to a young left-hander from Santa Cruz in Trinidad. Brian Lara rewarded Joey Carew richly for the interest he showed in him."

Last interview to us?
Recently, in an interview to MiD DAY, Carew expected Lara to come good in the IPL after the latter made him available since retiring from all forms of cricket in 2007.

"He is very determined to do well and is certainly going to succeed. I expect to see good things from Brian in this tournament and I am sure he will be worth the price a team pays for him," Carew had said.

Maybe, even God up there didn't want Carew to see Lara's IPL disappointment.