Karachi, The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the induction of Aravinda de Silva, Diana Edulji, and Virender Sehwag into the ICC Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023. These cricketing legends were chosen through a voting process involving existing Hall of Famers, media representatives, and senior executives from FICA and the ICC. They will be honored in a special ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on 15 November.
According to a press release by ICCI, Aravinda de Silva, a key player in Sri Lanka’s 1996 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory, had an illustrious 19-year international career, accumulating 6,361 runs in 93 Tests and 9,284 runs in 308 ODIs. De Silva is renowned for his all-around performance in the 1996 World Cup final, where he became the first player to score a century and take three wickets in the same World Cup match, a unique achievement in a final.
Diana Edulji becomes the first Indian woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Her 17-year international career was marked by significant contributions to Indian women’s cricket, both on and off the field. Edulji, a skilled left-arm bowler and right-handed batter, took 63 wickets in 20 Tests and 46 wickets in 34 ODIs. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Railways team, which became a dominant force in Indian women’s domestic cricket.
Virender Sehwag, known for his aggressive batting style, had a successful 14-year career with the Indian national team. Sehwag scored 8,586 runs in 104 Tests and 8,273 runs in 251 ODIs. He was instrumental in India’s victory in the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and set multiple records, including India’s first Test triple-century and a record ODI score of 219 runs.
ICC Chief Executive Officer Geoff Allardice praised the contributions of the three inductees, stating that they have revolutionized the sport in their own ways and provided fans with unforgettable moments. The inductees themselves expressed their gratitude and reflected on their careers, emphasizing the support of their families, teammates, and fans in their journeys.