Dubai: Former India men's captain Sourav Ganguly and former India women's captain Anjum Chopra were inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame on Saturday, joining former England captain Kevin Pietersen among the latest additions to the sport's most prestigious honours list.
The trio received the recognition during a ceremony in Edinburgh, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah praising their outstanding contributions to international cricket.
"I am delighted to welcome the latest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame, a tribute to the extraordinary individuals whose achievements have contributed greatly to our sport," Shah said.
He said Ganguly, Chopra and Pietersen had each led their national teams with distinction and earned the admiration of cricket fans around the world.
"Their place in the ICC Hall of Fame ensures their achievements will be celebrated for generations to come, standing alongside the game's greatest figures," Shah added.
Ganguly, who captained India during a transformative period following the match-fixing crisis and later served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), described the honour as one of the most cherished moments of his career.
"I am honoured to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. To have my name included among cricket's greatest players will remain one of my most cherished moments," he said.
The former left-handed batter scored 18,575 international runs during a career spanning nearly 15 years and thanked his family, friends and the cricketing fraternity for their support.
He also expressed gratitude to ICC Chairman Jay Shah, calling the Hall of Fame induction the highest recognition a cricketer can receive.
Former India women's captain Anjum Chopra said the honour was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream inspired by the legends of the game.
"As a kid growing up in a sporting household, I had heard stories of cricketing greats and momentous achievements. A dream to play for India got instilled very early on," she said.
Chopra represented India in 12 Tests, 127 One-Day Internationals and 14 Twenty20 Internationals. She also became the first Indian woman cricketer to score 1,000 runs in One-Day Internationals.
She said being recognised alongside some of cricket's greatest players was a tribute to everyone who had contributed to her journey and career.