Sourav Ganguly gets life membership of Marylebone Cricket Club

London: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has been awarded the honorary life membership of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

"Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club to former India captain Sourav Ganguly," the MCC said in a statement.

Ganguly, who has also been a member of the MCC World Cricket committee since July 2014, averaged over 40 in Tests and One Day Internationals for India and took 132 wickets across 424 matches. He made his Test debut at Lord's in 1996, scoring 131 in his first innings and etching his name on the famous Lord's Honours Board in the process.

Ganguly was made India captain in 2000 and went on to lead his country in 195 internationals. He also captained India to a famous victory in the 2002 NatWest Series Final at Lord's, a match which was voted the greatest ever Lord's match in a poll conducted by The Times and Lords.org last year as part of the Ground's bicentenary celebrations.

"I've got some fantastic memories of playing at Lord's that I carry with me forever, from the hundred on my debut to the amazing NatWest Trophy Final in 2002," Ganguly said.

(Photo: AFP)

"I've thoroughly enjoyed coming back to the ground both as a player and since I retired, and it's wonderful to now be part of MCC. I'd like to thank the Club for awarding me this privilege," he added.

John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket, said, "Sourav is one of the greatest cricketers ever to represent India and is a worthy MCC Honorary Life Member. He has a long and successful connection with Lord's and has always been warmly welcomed both as a player and broadcaster. I greatly look forward to working with him on the MCC World Cricket committee and it's a pleasure to have him as an Honorary Life Member."