'Love you forever and always' - Ben Stokes pays touching tribute to his father Ged

England star Ben Stokes has paid a touching tribute to his father Ged after he passed away on Tuesday following a battle with brain cancer. Ged was 65. A former rugby player and a coach who represented New Zealand, Ged was suffering from brain cancer for some time. Earlier this year, Stokes was there in Christchurch for more than a month taking care of his ailing father.

The all-rounder had traveled to New Zealand midway through the home series against Pakistan after learning about his father’s illness. Prior to that, Ged had to be hospitalised when he was in South Africa to cheer for his son. He had to be taken to the hospital just before the start of the Boxing Day Test between England and the home side.

Incidentally, Ben Stokes is currently with the England team in South Africa for the limited-over series. He had played all three T20Is and was rested for ODIs, which was cancelled on Monday after multiple cases of COVID-19 were detected in the bio-bubble. Stokes and the rest of the England team will leave South Africa on Thursday.

A heartwarming tribute from Ben Stokes

Hours after the demise of his father, Ben Stokes took to Instagram to post a touching tribute for him. The star all-rounder posted a photo of his father as well as himself. In the first photo, Ged could be seen with a huge smile on his face while wearing the Rajasthan Royals jersey while in the second photo, Ben could be seen with his famous “bent middle finger” gesture.

Ben came up with a gesture during the tour of South Africa earlier this year as a tribute to his father’s amputated finger. Ged had to remove a part of his finger in order to continue playing.

“In different places now me and you Ged but knowing you’ll always have this smile on your face make’s me smile every time I think of you. love you forever and always,” Ben Stokes wrote on Instagram.

Here is the post:

 

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A post shared by Ben Stokes (@stokesy)