The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) will felicitate both Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara for their contributions to Indian cricket, and making both state and country proud with their achievements.
Pujara is only the thirteenth Indian player to enter the elite 100-Test club and Jadeja is a proven match-winner for India across formats and is currently ranked No.1 in ICC Test all-rounder rankings. Both local boys will be honoured during the ceremony for unveiling the new name of the SCA Stadium on February 14. The stadium will now be called the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
“We will be felicitating both Pujara and Ravindra during the function for new name of the stadium,” says SCA President Jaydev Shah.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for remaining three England Tests this morning and there wasn’t a recall for Pujara, who has been consistently scoring runs for Saurashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Jaydev says it would have been special to see both their local boys – Pujara and Jadeja – take the field vs England but feels it is “part of the game”.
“I can’t say much on that (Pujara not playing) because it’s the team management’s and selectors’ call but had he been there, we would have been very proud. It’s not that we are not proud now, but we would have been more proud had he played. He has played over 100 Test matches and not many have managed to do that in India. Him playing at Rajkot would have been great but that’s part of the game. You don’t get everything what you dream. He has worked very hard. He made Saurashtra very proud,” says Jaydev.
While Pujara didn’t get a recall but Jadeja has returned to the squad after missing the second Test due to injury. As per the BCCI release, the all-rounder’s participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team. The SCA has invited Jadeja and his family for the felicitation and Jaydev is optimistic on Jadeja attending the event.
“Ravindra still is making Saurashtra very proud. I heard Ravindra is injured… don’t know much about it but he is likely to come for the function. I hope so. We will be felicitating him also for being the world’s best Test all-rounder,” informs Jaydev.
The state’s cricketing body has already extended invites to the BCCI top brass and other dignitaries and the unveiling of the new name of the stadium will be done by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on eve of the third Test. Both India and England players will have a training session earlier that day and invites will also be extended to the players participating in the Test.
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