I think, I got it too late: Sehwag on his induction in ICC's 'Hall of Fame'
Mumbai, Nov 14: Known for his straight-faced humour, former India opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday said that his induction into the ICC's 'Hall of Fame' has happened "too late".
Sehwag along with former Indian women's team skipper Diana Edulji and Sri Lankan legend Aravinda de Silva were made members of ICC Hall of Fame for their stellar achievements during their playing career.
"I think, I am too late," quipped Sehwag when former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop asked him about his thoughts to be part of the ICC Hall Of Fame.
One of the most destructive batters of the modern era, Sehwag donned India colours between 1999 and 2013. He scored a total of 23 Test centuries during his illustrious career -- the fifth most by an India men's player.
His highest score of 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008 the best of any Indian player ever.
During his conversation with Bishop, Sehwag touched upon a number of milestones of his career, including his first ODI match, his first Test match, his promotion from middle-order to opening the innings in both ODIs and Test cricket.
Sehwag, who accumulated 8,586 runs from 104 Tests at an average of 49.34 and also took 40 wickets during his Test career which spanned from 2001-2013, revealed the role of Zaheer Khan in his promotion as an opener.
"Everybody thinks it was Sourav Ganguly that thought of making him open the innings but it was Zaheer (Khan), who came up with that suggestion first. He told Ganguly to make me open the innings," said Sehwag.
The 45-year-old totalled 8,273 runs for India in 50-over cricket at an average of 35.05 and his 219 against the West Indies in Indore in 2011 remains the third-highest score achieved by a male cricketer in ODI.
Sehwag said he always believed in the philosophy of "see the ball, hit the ball".
"I was not somebody who believes in watch the ball, play the ball. There were players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, all legends who were doing that. So, I had to be different from them and that is also the reason why I never thought of changing my style of play."
Talking about being dropped from the side around 2007, Sehwag said: "Here was a guy who has scored a triple hundred, was sitting at home and watching it on TV players scoring 30-40 runs in the match. I missed 10-11 matches. I have to thank Anil Kumble for bringing me back into the team."
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House 'encroaching' portion of stepwell in Sambhal partly demolished by owner following notice
Sambhal (UP), Jan 11: A house, which allegedly encroached a portion of a nearly 150-year-old stepwell found recently in Chandausi area of Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, was partly demolished by its owner last night following a notice by municipal authorities, an official said on Saturday.
Executive Officer of Chandausi Nagar Palika Parishad, Krishna Kumar Sonkar, said since the excavation has been going on, it came to light that the house was encroaching the stepwell on its side. A notice was given to a woman named Gulnaz (wife of Yusuf Saifi), resident of Laxman Ganj, and they are demolishing it themselves.
"They were given a notice and they are demolishing it on their own. If we had demolished it with JCB, there would have been more damage. Yesterday, the district magistrate explained to them that only a part has to be removed, the rest will be left," he said.
Gulnaz said she is sad her house is going away.
"I was given a notice to vacate the house within 24 hours. I had talked to the DM. He asked us to register a case against those who sold us the land."
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, who had come to inspect the ancient stepwell last night, told reporters that some cracks were found inside the well and it was filled with debris.
There was excessive weight and keeping in view the possibility of rain in future, a shed will be constructed over it, he said.
By marking the entire land, the encroachment which is coming under its purview is also being removed, he said, adding there is a conservation area above the reservoir and the stepwell and no construction of any kind can be done at such places.
The stepwell, approximately 150 years old and covering an area of 400 sq m, was unearthed during excavation in the Laxman Ganj area of Chandausi in Sambhal district.
Excavation at the site began on December 21, Sonkar said.
District Magistrate Pensiya had earlier said the site was previously registered as a pond. The well's upper floor is made of bricks, while the second and third floors are of marble. The structure also features four rooms and a well.
