NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy, calling it a move that lacks sensitivity and historical respect.
The Pataudi Trophy, instituted in 2007 to mark 75 years of India-England Test cricket, has been awarded to the winner of bilateral Test series played in England. However, reports indicate that the ECB plans to replace it ahead of the upcoming five-Test series between India and England in June-July 2025.
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In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar minced no words: “This is the first time one has heard of a trophy named after individual players being retired… It shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contribution made by the Pataudis to cricket in both England and India.”
He added that while it’s within the ECB’s right to rename the trophy, removing Pataudi’s name is a disservice to his legacy.
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“There may well be a new trophy named after more recent players, and here’s hoping that if an Indian player has been approached, he will have the good sense to politely decline.”
Gavaskar urged current Indian cricketers to not lend their names to any new trophy, warning against the possibility of the same fate befalling their legacy in the future.
“Not only out of respect for two former India captains but also to avoid the same fate of having a trophy named after him retired after he is gone,” he emphasised.
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