BCCI to felicitate Sehwag during India-SA Test: DDCA

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 30

The BCCI will felicitate former opener Virender Sehwag during the fourth India-South Africa Test, to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground from December 3 to 7.

DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda claimed that the state association received an official communication from the BCCI late Monday evening to honour Sehwag, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month on his 37th birthday after serving Team India for over 12 years. 

“The BCCI will be felicitating Sehwag during the fourth Test. We have received an official response in that regard. The DDCA is awaiting further details about when the felicitation will take place. It could either be before or during the match,” Manchanda said.   

DDCA had itself planned to felicitate Sehwag by naming a gate at the Kotla ground after him, but as the state association office-bearers were busy with the preparation for the Test, the Executive Committee (EC) did not get time to discuss the matter and pass a resolution in this regard. DDCA vice-president CK Khanna said the state association would look to felicitate the opener during the Test itself. “But if that does not happen, then maybe the next international match at Kotla,” he said.

It has been learnt that BCCI’s cricket operations general manager MV Sridhar will be making an announcement to felicitate Sehwag on Tuesday when he arrives in Delhi.

Sehwag had switched domestic loyalties this season by ending his association with Delhi to captain the Haryana Ranji side. Sehwag, who last played for India in March 2013 in a Test against Australia, represented the country in 104 Tests and 251 ODIs, scoring 8586 runs in the longest format and 8273 runs in the 50-over version. It was his strike-rate of 82.23 in Tests and 104.33 in ODIs that made him one of the most destructive openers in world cricket.

Recently, the Maharashtra Cricket Association had felicitated former India pacer Zaheer Khan at the Wankhede Stadium during the fifth and final ODI against South Africa.