New Delhi: The Pataudi name will remain a part of the India-England series after legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s plea to keep it intact. The winning skipper of the upcoming five-match series will be presented with a medal named after the royal family that has had a connect with the game in both the countries, it was decided.
Earlier, the England and Wales Cricket Board had decided to rename the Pataudi Trophy to Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. A formal announcement was set to be made on the sidelines of the WTC final at the iconic Lord’s stadium in the last week but it was cancelled because of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad which took the lives of more than 200 passengers.
After the trophy was renamed, it attracted criticism from the likes of former cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar among some other veteran players. However, Master Blaster Tendulkar himself approached the England cricket board saying that the named should remain a part of the rivalry between India and England. Multiple media reports also mentioned that ICC head Jay Shah also played a pivotal role in the same.
Pataudi Medal to be awarded to winning captain
A BCCI source, on Tuesday, confirmed to news agency PTI that the winning captain in the Test series would be presented with a medal which would be named the Pataudi Medal.
‘When this happened Sachin reached out to ECB and conveyed that Pataudi name should remain a part of the India-England rivalry. Mr Jay Shah was involved in the discussions. ECB has agreed to the request and decided to present Pataudi Medal to the winning captain,’ said a BCCI source.
The five-match Test series will begin on June 20 at Leeds and a formal announcement on renaming of the trophy, which is due, is slated to be held on June 19, a day ahead of the series opener. It has also been decided that the pre-planned ceremony will not take place in the UK. Meanwhile, the renaming of the trophy marks a tribute to both Tendulkar and Anderson – the leading run-scorer in Test cricket and the highest wicket-taker in the longest format respectively.
The England and Wales Cricket Board decided to rename the Pataudi Trophy to Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy and the formal announcement of the same is expected to take place on June 19. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
