new Delhi: Former Australian cricketer Shane Warne will be cremated with state honors at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as a farewell to the ‘king of spin’, PTI quoted multiple media reports as saying. About one lakh people are expected to gather for the state funeral.
It was at the prestigious MCG in 1994 when Shane Warne took a hat-trick in the Boxing Day Test against England. PTI also reported that a public condolence meeting would be held after Warne’s state funeral.
Warne’s manager James Erskine has yet to officially confirm whether Warne’s funeral will take place at the MCG, but he told The Age, ‘Where else?’ According to the ‘Herald Sun’, Warne’s funeral will take place in two or three weeks and all arrangements will be made at the MCG.
Shane Warne’s family waits for his body to be brought back from Thailand to Australia. Warne died of a heart attack on Friday evening on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.
Warne’s statue has been erected outside the MCG ground and fans have been submerged here since his death. The southern stand of the MCG has been renamed as the SK Warne Stand to pay a fitting tribute to the Australian legend.
Former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Rodney Marsh also passed away on the day of Warner’s death. The Government of Western Australia has also decided to perform his last rites with state honours.
(with PTI inputs)