Three cricketing legends, England's Alastair Cook, India's Neetu David, and South Africa's AB de Villiers have been inducted into the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Hall of Fame, as part of the Class of 2024.
Alastair Cook, Neetu David, AB de Villiers inducted into ICC's Hall of Fame
Notably Alastair Cook, Neetu David, and AB de Villiers, have been inducted as members 113, 114, and 115. Established in 2009, the Hall of Fame honors the most exceptional cricketers throughout history.
England's batting great Alastair Cook represented his country in over 250 matches. He holds the record for the highest number of runs and centuries scored in Test cricket. Cook retired in 2018, having led England to numerous victories as captain.
Meanwhile, a former Indian spinner Neetu David became the second Indian woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. She followed in the footsteps of former captain Diana Edulji, who was the first Indian woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. Neetu David, who was a skilled left-arm spinner for India, became the first Indian woman to achieve 100 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Her most notable performance came in the 2005 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, where she led the wicket-taking charts and helped India reach the final for the first time.
"It is truly an honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, something that I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who puts on their national team jersey. This comes after a lifetime of dedication to this great sport and it caps a very special journey for me to get to this point," David said, as quoted by TOI.
"To be considered a Hall of Famer alongside the greatest players that ever lived is humbling, and I am thrilled to be part of this exclusive club. I would like to thank the ICC for the recognition, as well as all the BCCI, my teammates, coaches, family and friends that were a constant source of support throughout my career," David added.
On the other hand, another legend who has been inducted into ICC's Hall of Fame is former South African skipper AB de Villiers. De Villiers, who was known for his aggressive batting style and had earned a moniker of Mr 360, amassed over 20,000 runs in international cricket during his 14-year career. His innovative stroke play and record-breaking achievements, including the fastest fifties, hundreds, and 150s in ODIs, solidified his reputation as one of the most formidable batsmen in the game.
The Class of 2024, including Cook, David, and de Villiers, will be honored in Dubai this week. The celebration coincides with the conclusion of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
