27 April,2010 08:34 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Shyam Bhatia's love for the game of cricket has stood the test of time. He took it a step further with the unveiling of the Shyam Bhatia Cricket Gallery in Dubai. ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat did the honours in an inauguration ceremony attended by top cricket officials of the UAE.
The gallery, which has its walls decorated with autographed bats and caricatures of great cricketers is housed in Bhatia's Dubai residence.
"I have featured 72 cricketers in my book Portraits Of The Game and I have 72 bats autographed by the players with their profile. Among my prized collection is a bat autographed by the great Don Bradman," Bhatia said during the function.
The gallery is a treat for any cricket lover as it houses cricket balls autographed by legendary bowlers such as Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Michael Holding. A giant TV keeps playing great moments from Sharjah tournaments and world cricket from Bhatia's rare DVD collections. There is also a library with rare cricket books.
Bhatia's cricket affection is well known as he holds the Shyam Bhatia annual awards for outstanding UAE cricketers. He also distributes crickets kits around the world as part if his Cricket for Care programme.
