Gavaskar formally inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former India cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, here on Wednesday when he received his commemorative cap from fellow Hall of Famer and teammate Kapil Dev.

Gavaskar is one of the initial 55 inductees into 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. He now joins a Hall of Fame that includes 72 male and female cricketers.

“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 coordinate the presentation, but finally it is there and I am delighted that I have been inducted,” Gavaskar was quoted by an ICC media release.

“This 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,” he said.

Thrilled

Gavaskar was thrilled to receive the cap from Kapil who was his teammate for close to a decade. “Kapil is somebody I consider the greatest Indian cricketer and to receive this cap from him is a real big plus, a real big honour.

“Kapil and I have had some wonderful times playing in the Indian team. Being part of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad is a memory that will always stay with me. Kapil lifting the World 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,” the legendary opener, who scored 10,122 Test runs, said.

Privilege

Kapil, on his part, said it was a privilege to present the cap to Gavaskar. “It is a proud moment to be in the same group where Sunil Gavaskar is. In our time, we used to think and even today we think Sunil is one of the best openers.

“Sunil was the greatest player in my era and certainly was the best I played with. He was the best captain I played under.”

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and former Pakistan captains Aamir Sohail, Ramiz Raja, and Waqar Younis were present at the function.