Gavaskar Slams ECB's Decision: 'Drawn Series Showed How Silly This Idea Was...'
Sunil Gavaskar criticised replacing the Pataudi Trophy with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for the India-England Test series, questioning the logic and execution.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has once again stirred debate over the decision to replace the historic Pataudi Trophy with the newly introduced 'Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy' for the India–England Test series.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), facing widespread criticism from fans and experts for sidelining the original trophy, opted to present the 'Pataudi Medal' to the winning captain instead. However, Gavaskar has now questioned both the logic behind the move and the execution of the presentation.
Writing in his column for Sportstar after the conclusion of the five-Test series, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Gavaskar noted that no member of the Pataudi family was present for the medal presentation. He argued that the idea itself was flawed.
'Nobody from the Pataudi family was there either, for the Pataudi medal, which was to be presented to the winning team's captain. The drawn series showed how silly this idea was of trying to make up to the Pataudis by retiring the trophy named after them," Gavaskar wrote.
'Every time the series is drawn, the medal can't be presented, can it? Wouldn't it be better, therefore, to have the medal for the Man of the Series than give it to the winning team's captain? And what if the captain himself has had an ordinary series and had little impact on the result?" he added.
Gavaskar also criticised the absence of the two cricketing legends after whom the new trophy was named — Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson. He pointed out that both were in England at the time yet were not part of the ceremony.
'This was the first-ever series named after Sachin Tendulkar and Jimmy Anderson, two of cricket's greatest legends. One would have expected both to be present to give the trophy to the two captains, especially since the series ended in a draw." 'To the best of one's knowledge, both were in England at the time. So, were they simply not invited? Or was this similar to what happened in Australia earlier this year, when only Allan Border was asked to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because Australia had won the series? Since this England series was drawn, perhaps neither was asked to attend the presentation," he concluded.
In the series itself, India claimed victories in the second and fifth Tests, while England won the first and third. The fourth Test ended in a draw. Shubman Gill of India and Harry Brook of England were named joint Players of the Series for their standout performances.
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