Cricket Legends MS Dhoni, Matthew Hayden, Sana Mir, Hashim Amla And More Join Enter ICC Hall of Fame Ahead of WTC Final
Just days before the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, the International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed a stellar lineup of cricketing icons into its Hall of Fame. The latest inductees include MS Dhoni, Matthew Hayden, Daniel Vettori, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Sarah Taylor, and Sana Mir, with Mir marking a historic milestone as the first Pakistani woman to receive the honor.
Sana Mir, who debuted in 2005, led Pakistan in 72 of her 120 women’s ODIs and 65 of her 106 T20Is, steering her team to gold medals at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. As Pakistan’s leading ODI wicket-taker with 151 wickets, Mir also claimed the top spot in the ODI bowling rankings in 2018. “From a young girl dreaming of a women’s team in Pakistan to standing among the legends I admired, this moment feels unimaginable,” Mir said. “I’m deeply grateful and hope to contribute to cricket’s growth.”
MS Dhoni, former India captain, ended India’s 28-year wait for a men’s ODI World Cup title in 2011, hitting the winning runs on home soil. He also led India to the inaugural men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2013, making him the only captain to secure all three major white-ball ICC titles. Under his leadership, India topped the ICC Test rankings. Dhoni’s ODI career spanned 350 matches, with over 10,000 runs at an average above 50. “Being named to the ICC Hall of Fame alongside global cricketing greats is an honor I’ll cherish forever,” he said.
Australia’s Matthew Hayden, known for his aggressive opening batting, played a key role in Australia’s ODI World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, smashing three centuries in the latter. His career included 30 Test centuries and an average above 50.
South Africa’s Hashim Amla dominated Test cricket, helping his team reach the No. 1 ranking. In 2012, he became the first South African to score an unbeaten triple century in Tests against England, amassing over 55 international centuries across formats. His teammate Graeme Smith, who took on captaincy at 22, led South Africa in a record 109 Tests, winning 53, and captained 150 ODIs, a national record. “It’s an honor to join the ICC Hall of Fame, especially alongside Graeme,” Amla said. Smith echoed, “This is a proud moment for South Africa with two of us recognized.”
Daniel Vettori, now Australia’s assistant coach and a former New Zealand captain, is one of only three players with 4,000 Test runs and 300 wickets. He guided New Zealand to the 2009 Champions Trophy final.
England’s Sarah Taylor was instrumental in the women’s team’s 2009 ODI and T20 World Cup victories and their 2017 ODI World Cup win at home, scoring a vital 45 in the final against India. Renowned for her exceptional wicketkeeping, she recorded 232 dismissals across formats and championed mental health awareness. “Joining the ICC Hall of Fame is a dream come true, especially during this thriving era for women’s cricket,” Taylor said. “I’m grateful to the selection panel for this recognition.”