The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the first set of inductees into its Hall of Fame, with the country's Prime Minister and World Cup winning captain Imran Khan in the list.
Pakistan cricket icons Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were the first set of players to be included. They were already in the ICC Hall of Fame and thus earned an automatic selection.
The Pakistan board announced that there will be three more additions to the list each year from 2021. The inductees will be chosen by an independent panel and announced on October 16, which was the opening day of Pakistan’s inaugural Test in 1952.
Players retired from international cricket for at least five years will be eligible to be included in the PCB Hall of Fame.
After the announcement, legendary batsman Abbas told the PCB: "I feel truly humbled and at the same time delighted to be included in the PCB Hall of Fame.
"Every sportsman dreams of recognition and acknowledgement of his hard work. I am sure that younger players, when they hear about this initiative, will look to work even harder as such awards tend to motivate all."
Akram, one of the greatest left-arm bowlers of all time, said: “Induction in the PCB Hall of Fame is a big honour. At this stage the PCB has inducted the six Pakistan ICC Hall of Fame members.
"I am sure that in due course all the legends of Pakistan cricket will be included and will get due recognition for their services for the country and the game."
Former captain Younis said being recognised by his own board felt special. “For someone like me who has been a part of the game for more than 30 years, it comes as a matter of great satisfaction that my services for the country are being recognised."
Khan famously captained Pakistan to the World Cup title in 1992 with a young Akram central to the title run. Abbas scored more than 5,000 runs in Test cricket, while Hanif was one of the country's first batting greats.
Akram and Younis formed one of the most lethal fast-bowling pairs in the 1990s and 2000s, taking more than 1,700 international wickets between them.
