Three Cricket Greats enter ICC Hall of Fame

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, former England batter Kevin Pietersen and former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the trio’s induction during a ceremony in Edinburgh, taking the total number of Hall of Fame members to 125. ICC Chairman Jay Shah congratulated the inductees, describing them as players who represented the highest standards of excellence and whose achievements would be celebrated for generations. Ganguly, one of India’s most successful captains, led the team to the 2003 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, while India were declared joint winners of the 2002 Champions Trophy under his leadership. Pietersen was a key figure in England’s 2005 Ashes triumph and was named Player of the Tournament when England won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2010. Chopra became the first Indian woman to score 1,000 ODI runs and the first to play 100 ODIs. She also captained India to their first overseas Test victory in South Africa in 2002 and played a key role in India’s run to the 2005 Women’s World Cup final. The ICC Hall of Fame, launched in 2009 as part of the governing body’s centenary celebrations, recognises former players whose achievements and lasting impact have shaped the history of cricket. Players become eligible for induction five years after their final international appearance. (Newswire)