Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has been inducted into ICC Hall of Fame as soon he became eligible for this prestigious elite group. Tendulkar was inducted along with former South African pacer Allan Donald and former Australia’s woman pacer Fitzpatrick.
Sachin Tendulkar has scored most number of runs in Test Cricket (15,921), ODI cricket (18,426), most number of hundreds in Test cricket (51), in ODI cricket (49). He is also the first male batsman to score an ODI double hundred (200 not out against South Africa in 2010). Tendulkar has many more world records in cricket was an automatic choice as soon he was eligible to receive the honor.
Speaking in the ICC’s event, Sachin Tendulkar said, “It is an honor to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, which cherishes the contribution of cricketers over generations. They have all contributed to the growth and popularity of the game, and I am happy to have done my bit.”
In his speech, Sachin Tendulkar said, “On this occasion, I would like to thank all of those who were by my side over a long international career. My parents, brother Ajit and wife Anjali have been pillars of strength while I was lucky to have someone like coach Ramakant Achrekar as an early guide and mentor.”
Allan Donald, famous as white lightning and also the first South African to take 300 test wickets was shocked to receive the award.
Donald, who was overwhelmed, said, “The biggest shock when you open an e-mail like that – it says congratulations Allan Donald, you have been inducted in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame! It hits you; it hits you quite hard because it is a prestigious award and something that you can’t take lightly. I thank the ICC for the huge honor.”
Fitzpatrick the 8th woman to be inducted in ICC Hall of Fame, helped Australia to win 2 World Cups and was the fastest bowler of her time.
Talking about the induction, Fitzpatrick said: “To gain recognition alongside many of the games’ giants is a huge honor. I look at the list of past inductees and what stands out most is not only their outstanding talent but that they were game-changers. They took the game on and changed the way it was played.”
The criteria for induction into the elite league are as follows.
- Players must have retired at least five years before the current date.
- For a batsman to qualify, he should have recorded at least 8,000 runs and 20 centuries in any of the two major formats (Tests and ODIs) or should average over 50 in either.
- Bowlers must have more than 200 wickets to their name in any one of the formats – however, their strike-rate in Tests should be 50, and 30 in ODIs.
- Stumpers may qualify if they have accounted for 200 dismissals in either or both the formats.
- A captain must have led his side in at least 25 Tests and 100 ODIs with a win% of 50 percent or more in either or both.
Tendulkar is the sixth Indian after Bedi (2009), Gavaskar (2009), Kapil (2009), Kumble (2015), Dravid (2018) to be inducted in ICC Hall of Fame.
Twenty-eight players from England are inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame, the most from any nation. The list is followed by 26 from Australia, 18 from West Indies, six from India, five from Pakistan, three from New Zealand, three from South Africa and one from Sri Lanka.
