26, Jan 2020 Felicitation

It is matter of immense pride that Mr. , Mr. and Mr. were felicitated on 25th January 2020 during celebration of 71st Republic Day at .

Mr. Niranjan Shah, former Hon. Secretary of BCCI & Saurashtra Association has been bestowed with prestigious Ratna Award by Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvratji and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Rupani during celebration of 71st Republic Day for his priceless & significant contributions in the World of Cricket. Niranjan Shah was elected as Hon. Jt. Secretary of BCCI for the year 1992 - 93. He was elected as Board’s Hon. Secretary for the year 2001- 02 and was again elected as Hon. Secretary of BCCI in November 2005. In September 2006, in a most prestigious and uncontested election, Niranjan Shah has been re-elected as the Board’s Hon. Secretary for a further term of two years. This re-election speaks volumes of his ability, efficiency and dynamism. He has rendered his services effectively and meaningfully in many committees of BCCI, such as Finance, Technical, Marketing, Programme & Fixture, World Cup 2011. From 2010 to 2013, he served as BCCI’s Vice President. He also served as Vice Chairman of prestigious IPL. Shah’s long cherished dream of having Cricket stadium fulfilled in 2013 when it was inaugurated by then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi. The Stadium is well designed and conceptulised by Niranjan Shah himself. Shah believes in having best possible infrastructure for Cricket. The stadium is well equipped with all required Cricketing facilities. His aim is to have many more Cricket grounds in Saurashtra to encourage Cricket and Cricket lovers. the Stadium and Rajkot are now Cricket Centre for all formats of Modern Cricket, be it , International Twenty20, IPL and Test Match. Niranjan Shah feels great accomplishment when Rajkot/Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium declared as Test Match Centre.

Mr. Cheteshwar Pujara, popularly known as the Wall, was felicitated with prestigious Gujarat Ratna Award by Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvratji and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Rupani during celebration of 71st Republic Day. ICC’s top ranker Pujara is one of the most prominent batsman in . Cheteshwar Pujara and his became synonymous to perfection in the classical old school mould who can tire the opposition not only with his presence in the middle but also by the heap of runs that he scores. He made it to the Indian Test squad in 2010 on the weight of tons and tons of runs that he scored for Saurashtra since making his First Class debut. Call him The Wall, Run Machine or Mr. Dependable. In every level of Cricket, Maestro of Bat kept scoring runs. He set many records, crossed many milestones and many many more to come. Scoring triple tons, double tones or merely tons seem to be his habit. Today on his birthday, God of Cricket truly complimented him that needs priest’s blessings to get him out.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Rupani felicitated Mr. Jaydev Shah, President of Saurashtra Cricket Association & former of Saurashtra’s team with Young Icon Award in Yuva Samelan during celebration of 71st Republic Day. Jaydev played 120 First Class Matches. He captained Saurashtra Ranji Team for record 110 times, which is domestic cricket record. Under his captaincy Saurashtra became Runners Up in Ranji Trophy in 2012-13 and 2015-16 and also reached twice in Semi Finals of Ranji Trophy. Saurashtra also had become National Champions in Vijay Hazare One Day Tournament in 2007-08 under his captaincy. The inborn trait of leadership in Jaydev created a passion & hunger in the team to do something different and achieve as a team. In his new role and responsibilities as President of Saurashtra Cricket Association, he is putting up all his vast experience as Cricketer to take Cricket of Saurashtra at greater heights.