India is set to tour England for a five-match Test series starting on June 20th. This series has been known as the Pataudi Trophy since 2007, celebrating 75 years of Test cricket between India and England. It is named after the Pataudi family, which produced one of India’s greatest Test captains.
In recent developments, just a few months before the series begins, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to retire the Pataudi Trophy and is considering a new name for the trophy for this historic series.
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Indian Legend Sunil Gavaskar recently expressed his disbelief at this decision, criticizing the England Cricket Board(ECB) for retiring the trophy and suggesting that it should be named after a current player, rather than after individuals who are no longer alive. In a recent interview with Sports Star, Gavaskar stated:
“The recent news that the ECB is going to retire the Pataudi Trophy, awarded to the winners of the Test series between England and India in England, is indeed disturbing. It is the first time one has heard of a trophy named after individual players being retired. While the decision lies entirely with the ECB, the BCCI may well have been informed. This action shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contributions made by the Pataudi family to cricket in both England and India.”
Moreover, the Pataudi family was also in disbelief and reportedly unhappy when they heard the news. Sharmila Thakur mentioned that it had hurt her and added:
“I haven't heard from them, but the ECB has sent a letter to Saif stating that they are retiring the trophy. If the BCCI wants to remember Tiger's legacy or not is for them to decide.”
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This will mark the second time in the history of the sport that a trophy has been retired. The famous Wisden Trophy, formerly contested between England and the West Indies, has now been retired and renamed the Richards-Botham Trophy, in honor of legends Viv Richards from West Indies and Ian Botham from England.
