Dubai: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on Wednesday in Dubai when he received his commemorative cap from fellow Hall of Famer and teammate Kapil Dev.
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. 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 co-ordinate the presentation but finally it is there and I am delighted that I have been inducted," Gavaskar was quoted as saying 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."
Gavaskar was thrilled to receive the cap from Kapil who has been his teammate for close to a decade.
"Kapil is somebody who I consider as 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 World Cup winning squad is a memory that will always stay with me. Kapil lifting the Cup at the 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 has scored 10,122 runs in Test cricket said.
Kapil, on his part said that 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 till today we think Sunil is one of the best-ever opening batsman. Sunil was the greatest player in my era and certainly was the best I played with. He was the best captain I played under.”
"The team was struggling in those days. We did not have those great players that we have today. But under the circumstances, Sunil had a big influence on the side. He motivated and taught us how to fight."
Those present at the function were ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and former Pakistan captains Aamir Sohail, Ramiz Raja and Waqar Younis.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 09, 2012, 15:52