Sunil Gavaskar inaugurates cricket field in USA named after him
Sunil Gavaskar
The legendary Indian cricketer said he was delighted and privileged at the honour
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar on October 15 inaugurated a cricket field named after him in Louisville in the state of Kentucky inUSA.
The Sunil Gavaskar field, the first international sporting facility named after an Indian sportsperson, will serve as the home ground for the Louisville Cricket Club, which is part of the 42-team MidWest Cricket league, media reports said.
"I am delighted and privileged at the honour," Gavaskar said in a statement.
"It's a unique honour to have a cricket field named after me, especially in a country where cricket is not a premier sport."
The club, along with Lousiville Mayor Greg Fischer, built a cricket pitch at the Hays Kennedy Park.
The club also organised a dinner for Gavaskar, where Fischer presented him with a key to the city.
Mayor Greg Fischer said that he expects the city's $150,000 investment in the fields will reap great awards.
Fischer said, "We are an increasingly global community, and cricket is already part of our city's sporting landscape."
"We hope the investment at Hays Kennedy Park will open the sport to more local participation, and the city to even more global opportunities," he further added.