Sir Garfield Sobers was called “the greatest cricketer the world has ever known” by his former teammate Sir Clive Lloyd at the legendary West Indies player’s state funeral in Barbados.

Lloyd described the multi-talented Sobers, who died aged 89 on July 17, as “a man who lived in the hearts and minds of Caribbean people and who became a source of inspiration to millions of people around the world.”

An entertaining left-handed batsman and seam and spin bowler, Sobers played 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs and taking 235 wickets.

The funeral was held at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval, Barbados’ main ground and home to a pavilion named after Sobers.

Lloyd and fellow West Indies legends Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes were among those who spoke at the state thanksgiving service, which was also attended by Barbadian President Jeffrey Bostic, Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Barbadian music superstar Rihanna.

West Indies Test captain Roston Chase, who comes from Barbados, vice-captain Jomel Warrican and Barbadian players from the current team were also present, having completed a Test victory over Pakistan on Monday, winning by 90 runs in four days in Trinidad.

“Sir Garfield Sobers was not simply the greatest cricketer of his generation,” Lloyd added. “He brought to the beautiful game a rare combination of brilliance, imagination, courage and joy.”

Sobers’ coffin was draped in the Barbadian flag and left the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown on a gun carriage for a formal procession through the nation’s capital.

Upon reaching the stadium, the carriage passed a guard of honor made up of raised cricket bats.

“This is not a sad moment,” Lara said of his mentor. “This is a time to celebrate and I hope you feel the same. Today we celebrate the extraordinary life of cricket’s greatest player.

“We celebrate a man who gave so much to his family, to Barbados, to the West Indies and to all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Sobers scored 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, an effort that stood as the record Test score for 36 years.

He was also named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the 20th Century.

During his spell with Nottinghamshire in 1968, Sobers became the first player to score six out of six balls in an over in a first-class match.

Mottley described Sobers as “a man who if he had achieved none of those great feats on the cricket field would have been immortalized by his community as a good man and a great man.”

The Reverend Canon Guy Hewitt read a message from King Charles during the service.

“History is distinguished by sporting champions whose records have commanded respect across generations,” the message read. “However, there have been far fewer whose name makes people smile in Barbados, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth.

“Sir Garfield Sobers falls firmly into the latter category. I send my deepest condolences to Sir Garry’s family as they come to terms with this great loss.”

Sobers’ body was laid in state at the Barbados parliament on Monday and at Kensington Oval on Tuesday, and national dignitaries and members of the public were able to pay their respects.

His remains will be buried at Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, southern Barbados.