Published: Jan 21, 2014, 09:14 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 21, 2014, 10:55 AM (IST)
Jan 21, 2014
After slamming 546 runs in an inter-school game last year and scoring big scores over time, Virar boy Prithvi Shaw pipped Sachin Tendulkar to become the youngest to be awarded the membership of Cricket Club of India (CCI) on Monday.
Earlier, 15-year-old Tendulkar was the youngest to be given CCI membership by the late club President Raj Singh Dungarpur.
“This is a fabulous thing done by our cricket committee. CCI is privileged to encourage him. This is just what happened with Sachin. We’re always keen to promote cricketers,” CCI club President Sevanti Parekh was quoted as saying by Times of India.
“The ‘doors’ will open for him from now. I’m sure with the talent Shaw has, he’ll make a mark. We’d be happy if we play a small role in his progress as a cricketer,” Parekh added. “We’re privileged that Shaw is playing for us and we’ll do everything using our global network to improve his cricket and give him a chance of playing for India,” said Vice-President Kapil Malhotra.
CCI didn’t allow any player below 18 to use dressing room and the club house. However, an exception was made for Tendulkar, when they changed rules to allow the Indian batting legend play.
Shaw, who has had memorable knocks at CCI while playing against VN Sule Guruji a few years back, said, “I am honoured. This is a historic club with great facilities. I am told many stalwarts played for the club. I have played a Harris Shield game on this lovely ground and have scored a hundred.”
The Virar-lad received a letter of appreciation from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also, after his world record knock.
Recently, in a match playing for Air India, Shaw scored 64 runs against CCI.
Remembering the late Raj Singh Dungarpur on Monday, CCI president said, “Had he been alive, he’d have done this honour himself.”
