The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, October 16 revealed the latest crop of cricketing icons inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. Following a process conducted among existing Hall of Famers, senior executives and global cricket media, three names have been added to the long list of cricketing legends that comprise the ICC Hall of Fame: Alastair Cook, Neetu David and AB de Villiers, who join as inductees 113, 114 and 115 respectively.
The ICC Hall of Fame was launched in January 2009 as part of the ICC’s centenary celebrations. Since then, it has helped celebrate the greatest players ever to have graced the game during its long and illustrious history.
ABD, Cook and David honoured in ICC Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Cook represented England over 250 times in international cricket, making his most significant impact in the longest format. A talismanic figure with supreme consistency, he retired from international cricket in 2018 as England’s highest Test run-scorer and century-maker, spearheading notable successes both home and away with the bat and as captain.
David was a widely admired figure for India during her career thanks to her skilful left-arm spin, a weapon which saw her become the first Indian woman to take 100 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Among her standout achievements, she hit the headlines when she topped the wicket-taking list at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2005 to inspire her country to their first final.
Completing the lineup is de Villiers, who enjoyed a remarkable career spanning 14 years, during which he hit over 20,000 international runs across all three formats. An innovative stroke-maker with an eye for the spectacular, as well as excelling in Test and T20I cricket, the South African set records for the fastest fifty, century and 150 in ODI cricket to earn a reputation of being one of the most feared, destructive batters in the history of the game.
The Class of 2024 will be celebrated in a special series of engagements in Dubai this week, coinciding with the eagerly anticipated conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
ICC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Allardice commented: “We are delighted to announce the addition of Alastair, Neetu and AB to the long list of cricketing icons that form the illustrious ICC Hall of Fame, as the Class of 2024. Once again, we find ourselves celebrating not only truly great players, but elite innovators, record-breakers and passionate competitors that excelled on the field of play during their glittering international careers."
“Beyond their remarkable statistics span n ing all formats of the game, all three have made significant contributions to the way the game is played today and are worthy additions to the ICC Hall of Fame. We look forward to acknowledging their lasting legacies in Dubai later this week,” he further added.
Alastair Cook said, “I am delighted to have been chosen to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. It is a huge honour to join some of the greatest players to have ever played the game. I have always felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for Essex and England and so to have this latest honour given to me just makes it all the more special.”
Indian legend, Neetu David also opened up as she said, “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."
“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,” she added.
AB de Villiers also shared his experience after being named in the Hall of Fame list. “It is a tremendous honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, joining a select group of cricketers to be recognised in this way. Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game… and it’s true that, whether you are a batsman taking guard at the crease or a bowler pausing at the start of his run-up, you - and only you - are responsible for what happens," he said.
“That said, everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game. And I know I would have achieved nothing without the help and support of so many teammates, coaches and support staff from my early days at school in Pretoria, through so many memorable days at the Titans and with the South Africa team - and, indeed in franchise cricket - all around the world. To all of them, to the ICC, and supporters around the world, thank you,” he concluded.
(With Inputs from Press Release)
