Sachin Tendulkar has broken his silence regarding the controversy surrounding the renaming of the Pataudi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Test series between India and England. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had jointly decided to rename the trophy the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, to honour James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar. The decision sparked criticism from former players and fans alike, who felt it diminished the Pataudi family's legacy and its deep connection to the India-England cricket rivalry.
The Pataudi Trophy was instituted in 2007 to commemorate 75 years of the first Test series between England and India. It was named after the Pataudi family, specifically Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, both iconic Indian captains. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi is also the only cricketer to have played Test cricket for both England and India. The trophy symbolized the shared legacy and complex history between the two cricketing nations.
Tendulkar, who had maintained silence on the issue until recently, revealed that he was informed of the decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy only after it had been taken by the BCCI and ECB. Acknowledging the Pataudi family's immense contribution to Indian cricket, Tendulkar said he felt it was important to ensure that their legacy was kept alive. He recounted stories he had heard about the Pataudis, which inspired him.
To that end, Tendulkar said he contacted the Pataudi family and then spoke with Jay Shah of the BCCI and representatives of the ECB, emphasizing the need to honour the Pataudi legacy in a meaningful way. Following these discussions, it was decided that the Pataudi name would continue to be associated with the series through the introduction of the "Pataudi Medal of Excellence," which will be awarded to the winning captain of each series.
Tendulkar stated that he has always respected his seniors and did everything in his power to ensure the Pataudi legacy continues to be associated with the series. He emphasized that the decision to retire the trophy rested with the BCCI and the ECB, and once he was informed, he did all he could to ensure the legacy was kept intact.
The move to rename the trophy had drawn criticism from several former cricketers. Sunil Gavaskar had expressed his disappointment, highlighting the Pataudi family's contribution to cricket in both England and India. Kapil Dev also said he was surprised by the decision, calling it "strange."
The ECB's decision reportedly faced widespread criticism, with Sachin Tendulkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah also attempting to convince the ECB to reverse it. However, the England board decided to retain the Pataudi Medal for Excellence, an individual honour introduced to preserve the legacy of the former India captain.
With the introduction of the Pataudi Medal of Excellence, Tendulkar believes that the Pataudi legacy will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers and fans.
