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Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has sharply criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its reported decision to retire the Pataudi Trophy ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England in 2025. The move, according to Gavaskar, shows “a total lack of sensitivity” to the legacy of the Pataudi family, which produced two Test captains — Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
The Pataudi Trophy, first awarded in 2007 to commemorate 75 years of Test cricket between the two nations, has since become the official prize for India-England Test series held in England. Reports suggest that the ECB is now looking to retire it in favor of a new trophy possibly named after more contemporary players.
Gavaskar, in his Sportstar column, didn’t hold back his disapproval.
“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 wrote.
He also urged current Indian players to decline if approached by the ECB to have a new trophy named after them.
“Here’s hoping that if an Indian player has been approached, he will have the good sense to politely decline — 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,” Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar clarified that while the ECB has the right to name a trophy as it sees fit, retiring one that honors a deeply respected figure like Tiger Pataudi was uncalled for.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Sharmila Tagore, wife of the late Tiger Pataudi, confirmed the development, saying the ECB had written to their son, Saif Ali Khan, about the decision to retire the trophy.
“If the BCCI wants to or does not want to remember Tiger’s legacy, it is for them to decide,” she said.
While retiring cricket trophies is rare, it’s not unprecedented. In 2020, the Wisden Trophy was replaced by the Richards-Botham Trophy for Test series between England and the West Indies. However, Gavaskar and many fans believe the Pataudi Trophy represents a legacy that deserves to live on.
