ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies cricket legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul was announced as one of the new members of International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Hall of Fame on Tuesday afternoon in Australia (Monday night Caribbean Time). He has joined the list of fellow cricketing icons who have received this prestigious honour. The ICC announced Chanderpaul will be inducted in the Hall of Fame alongside Pakistan legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and England trailblazer Charlotte Edwards.
The left-handed Chanderpaul played at the international level for over to two decades and is among the leading run-scorers in the game’s history. He made his Test debut in 1994 at age 19 against England at Bourda in his native Guyana. He played 164 Test matches – the most by a West Indian – and scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37, which included 30 centuries.
He also played 268 One-Day Internationals and made 8,778 runs with 11 centuries at an average of 41.60; while in 22 T20 Internationals he made 343 runs. His first-class career was outstanding with 27,545 runs in 385 matches at an average of over 53. He had 77 centuries including a career-best of 303 not out for Guyana against Jamaica.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) President and ICC Director, Ricky Skerritt, paid tribute to Chanderpaul.
“On behalf of all West Indies cricket stakeholders, I congratulate Shivnarine ‘Shiv’ Chanderpaul for receiving the highest honor of his career to date. Shiv’s story exemplifies all that is good about him and the game of cricket – his hard work, commitment, adaptability and his resulting growth and achievements on and off the field. His love for the game is unmatched, and he demonstrated throughout his two decades on the field that he was the man for all seasons.”
“From the early days in the Under-19 set-up in Guyana shiv showcased his immense batting talent. He honed his skills and worked tirelessly to become the number 1 ranked batsman in the world. He embodied the statement ‘heights of great men reach and kept were not attained by sudden flight’. Shiv toiled hard to improve and at every stage was able to re-invent his game to meet the demands. We salute Shiv for his immense contribution to West Indies cricket and world cricket.”
West Indians previously inducted into The ICC Hall of Fame: Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Learie Constantine, Joel Garner, Lance Gibbs, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Sir Wes Hall, the Most Hon. Desmond Haynes, George Headley, Michael Holding, Rohan Kanhai, Brian Lara, Sir Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Garry Sobers, Courtney Walsh, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Frank Worrell.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Cricket Board also congratulated the legendary left-hander on his induction.
“The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) congratulates Shivnarine Chanderpaul on being inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame,” a release from the board stated.
“Chanderpaul made his first-class debut for Guyana against the Leeward Islands at GCC, Bourda in the 1991-1992 Red Stripe Cup. In his 385 First-Class matches he accumulated 27, 545 runs at an average of 53.17 with the highest score of 303 not out against Jamaica at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. He played 423 List A matches aggregating 13, 439 runs at an average of 41.99, with the highest score of 150.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul who most will agree batted courageously and defiantly throughout his career amassed 11, 867 runs from 164 Test matches at an astonishing average of 51.37 with the highest score of 203 not out against South Africa at GCC, Bourda. He hit 30 centuries in his Test career and registered two double centuries. He played 268 One Day Internationals (ODIs) aggregating 8, 778 runs at an average of 41.41, and a strike rate of 70.74 with the highest score of 150 against South Africa in the 1998 West Indies Tour of South Africa.
Additionally, Shivnarine Chanderpaul recorded strike rates of 98.85 in 22 T20 Internationals and 80.65 from three IPL matches. He was occasionally used for his leg spin to break partnerships and this enabled him to collect 9 Test wickets and 14 ODI wickets.
Chanderpaul who is familiarly called “Tiger” is the father of Tagenarine Chanderpaul known as “Cub” who recently gained selection to the West Indies Test Squad for the 2022 Tour of Australia.
The President and Executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board would like to extend the heartiest congratulations to Shivnarine Chanderpaul for this prestigious induction into the ICC Hall of Fame and look forward to his continued contribution to the development of cricket across the West Indian region and beyond,” the release ended.
