Bangalore, Jun 18:

One of  Indian batting stalwarts, VVS Laxman, has a club named after him by one of his closest friends in England.

The VVS Laxman Cricket Club in Bradford town of Yorkshire, England is a fitting tribute to the batting artiste from Hyderabad, according to the right-hander’s friend Manish Patel.

“It was a little strange. He was very adamant and I had no choice but to say yes. Manish and his family are among my closest friends. I have known them since 1995 when I played in the Bradford League as a youngster,” Laxman told The Indian Express newspaper on Sunday.

“Obviously I was humbled by their gesture to name a club after me,” added Laxman in the newspaper report.

“This is a small way of showing our gratitude and affection towards a great friend. And we try our best to play the game with the same impeccable fairness that Laxman has always endorsed,” Manish, 41, said.

VVS Laxman Cricket Club plays in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League. They have been doing well this season, the report said. This is a 117-year-old league with teams divided into four groups. VVSL Laxman Cricket Club are one win away from securing a semi-final spot.

“Laxman is an icon, probably the closest to being Mr Perfect. And not just on the field. He is a perfect example of how you should carry yourself. It is unimaginable how he’s handled his fame. He is also like family to us,” Laxman’s friend Manish said. Manish is also the secretary of the club.

“The BMSSCL consists of Indian-origin teams, Pakistani-origin teams and several local teams. The standard is quite high, since you have many players who have been part of senior leagues across Yorkshire,” said Mukesh Patel, captain of the club.

Laxman has so far played 134 Tests for India and has scored 8,781 runs with 17 hundreds and 56 half centuries.

ThatsCricket

source: http://www.thatscricket.com / Home> News / posted by Aprameya / Monday, June 18th, 2012