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BSP-09
CRICKET-ICC-PAK-RSA-AUS-ZAHEER-KALLIS-STHALEKAR
Zaheer Abbas, Kallis and women’s star Sthalekar inducted into ICC Hall of
Fame
SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, Aug 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan batting
great Zaheer Abbas, outstanding South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and
Australia women’s star Lisa Sthalekar were all inducted into the
International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Zaheer, 73, a prolific run-scorer during the 1970s and 1980s with both
Pakistan and English county side Gloucestershire, was nicknamed the ‘Asian
Bradman’ in honour of Australia’s Don Bradman, widely regarded as Test
cricket’s greatest batsman of all time.
“I feel privileged and truly humbled to be inducted into the ICC Cricket
Hall of Fame of the class of 2020,” said Zaheer, a former president of the
global governing body and the only player from Asia to have scored a hundred
first-class hundreds.
– ‘Final recognition’ –
Zaheer scored a double-century and a century in the same first-class match
on a record four occasions and was the first batsman to score three
successive centuries in one-day international cricket.
“I would like to say a special thanks to my family, my country Pakistan, my
county Gloucestershire and many fans worldwide who helped me achieve and
fulfil my dreams by playing this great game at the highest level,” he said.
“Thank you, ICC, and the members of the jury, for this special honour. It
is a final recognition for any cricketer. This great game has made me the
person I am.”
Kallis, 44, is the only player to score at least 10,000 runs and take at
least 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket.
The ICC player of the Year and ICC Test player of the year in 2005, Kallis
is also South Africa’s leading Test run-scorer, and currently third on the
all-time list.
“It is something that I never expected when I started playing,” said
Kallis, the most capped South African player in both Test and ODI cricket. “I
only wanted to win the games for whoever I was playing for.”
– ‘Pantheon of greats’ –
India-born off-spinner Sthalekar, 41, was the first woman to achieve the
double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODI cricket.
She was also a member of the Australia teams that won the ICC Women’s World
Cup in 2005 and 2013 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2010 and 2012.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join
such an illustrious group of players,” said Sthalekar as she thanked her
team-mates.
Kallis is the fourth South African player inducted and Zaheer the sixth
from Pakistan. Sthalekar is the ninth women’s cricketer in the list.
In all, 93 players have been inducted so far under the system in which
players become eligible five years after playing their last international
match.
Hall of Fame members formed the majority of the adjudicating panel with
representation from the media, ICC and Federation of International
Cricketers’ Association (FICA).
ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney: “These are all players with a legacy that
will continue to inspire future generations for years to come.
“I congratulate Zaheer, Jacques and Lisa on their inclusion in the pantheon
of cricket greats.”
BSS/AFP/ARS/1703 hrs