Gavaskar inducted in Hall of Fame
Former India captain and batting legnd Sunil Gavaskar was formally
inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame, the ICC
said Thursday.
The 62-year-old former opener was presented the Hall of Fame cap by
former Indian captain Kapil Dev in the presence of Haroon Lorgat, the
ICC chief executive at a function held on Wednesday night, ICC said.
Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman in Test cricket to get 10,000
runs and 30 centuries, finishing with 10,122 and 34 hundreds during an
illustrious career which spanned from 1971-87.
"It is a huge honour because it is the peers in the game who decide
who is going to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. It has
taken some time to co-ordinate the presentation but finally it is there
and I am delighted that I have been inducted," said Gavaskar.
"This (award) means that you are in select company and, therefore, it
becomes all the more special. To be an original inductee is an even
bigger honour."
Gavaskar is one of the initial 55 inductees in the ICC Cricket Hall
of Fame which was launched in January 2009 in association with the
Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) as part of
the ICC's Centenary Year.
Gavaskar now joins a Hall of Fame that includes 72 male and female
cricketers. He was also a member of the India squad that won the ICC
Cricket World Cup 1983 in England, defeating the West Indies by 43 runs.
Gavaskar showed delight on getting the cap from his former captain.
"Dev and I have had some wonderful times. Being part of the World
Cup-winning squad is a memory that will always stay with me. Dev lifting
the Cup at Lord's is something that I will always treasure and,
therefore, to receive the cap from him makes this occasion even more
special."
Dev also acknowledged Gavaskar's contributions for India.
"It is a proud moment to be in the same group where Gavaskar is. In
our time, we used to think and even till today we think he is one of the
best-ever opening batsman and the greatest player in my era," said Dev.
AFP
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