On his 50th birthday, the West Stand of the Sharjah cricket stadium in the United Arab Emirates was renamed in tribute to Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. On April 24, a special ceremony was organized to celebrate the milestone, which happened on the same day as the 25th anniversary of Tendulkar’s ‘Desert Storm innings in Sharjah in 1998.
Tendulkar scored 143 runs on April 22 during the Coca-Cola Cup triangular series between India, Australia, and New Zealand, and 134 runs in the final game two days later. The pair of centuries, nicknamed the “Desert Storm,” is thought to be one of Tendulkar’s best performances.
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for hosting the most One-Day Internationals, has established its place in cricket history. Some of cricket’s greatest events have taken occurred in this historic stadium.
In response to the news about the stand being named after him, “I wish I was there but unfortunately, I had prior commitments. Playing in Sharjah has always been a magnificent experience. From the electrifying atmosphere to the love, affection and support, Sharjah has been a special venue for Indian cricket fans and lovers of the game from around the globe.
“A big thank you to Bukhatir and his team for this kind gesture on the 25th anniversary of the Desert Storm match and my 50th birthday. Feels like the greatest 6 of them all,” he is quoted to have said.
Sharjah Stadium CEO says renaming the stand to acknowledge the services to cricket by Tendulkar
The CEO of the Sharjah Stadium, Khalaf Bukhatir, praised Tendulkar for his contribution to cricket and said that renaming the stand was a little gesture in appreciation of such achievements. On the same day, a gate honouring Tendulkar was added at Australia’s famous Sydney Cricket Ground. The stadium also commemorated West Indies cricketer Brian Lara by unveiling a pair of gates featuring his name.
“Indeed, that was an incredible inning, and it was repeated in the finals. Right through the years of the now legendary CBFS initiative we have striven here at Sharjah to acknowledge the services of many great players even after their retirement,” Bukhatir stated.
“We believe that as administrators it is our duty to pay tribute to those who have raised the bar and dedicated their lives to the cause of cricket, and we will continue to do so,” he said.
Only Sachin Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, achieved 100 international hundreds throughout the span of a 24-year career. With 49 ODI hundreds in 34 stadiums, he has been regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game.
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