Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar took a dig on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy presentation at The Oval on the finish of the gruelling five-Take a look at sequence. In a stunning revelation, Gavaskar stated that each the retired cricketers had been current in England, however weren’t current for the ceremony.
The sequence led to a 2-2 draw after the Shubman Gill-led younger Indian aspect pulled off a powerful six-run heist in London. Nevertheless, neither Sachin nor Anderson was current at hand over the trophy to England captain Ben Stokes and Gill. ECB, too, remained mum on the problem.
Taking to his column in Sportstar, Gavaskar questioned the logic behind their absence from the ceremony regardless of their being within the nation. The India batting legend speculated as he drew a similarity to the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy sequence, the place Australia’s Allan Border was requested to current the trophy whereas Cricket Australia ignored him regardless of his presence on the venue for broadcasting duties. Gavaskar reckoned that Sachin and Anderson had been most likely not contacted as a result of the sequence had led to a draw.
“This was the first-ever sequence named after Sachin Tendulkar and Jimmy Anderson, two of cricket’s biggest legends. One would have anticipated each to be current to offer the trophy to the 2 captains, particularly for the reason that sequence led to a draw. To one of the best of 1’s information, each had been in England on the time. So, had been they merely not invited? Or was this just like what occurred in Australia earlier this yr, when solely Allan Border was requested to current the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a result of Australia had received the sequence? Since this England sequence was drawn, maybe neither was requested to attend the presentation,” he wrote.
Gavaskar additionally highlighted that none from the Pataudi household was current at hand over the Pataudi medal. He additional stated the idea itself was flawed, as a drawn sequence meant the medal couldn’t be offered, and recommended it ought to as an alternative go to the Man of the Sequence reasonably than the successful group’s captain.
“Principally around the globe, directors are introduced in to make sure earnings and are fairly good at it, however they could not have a lot information in regards to the historical past of the game they’re presiding over. So, these little gestures should not of their scheme of issues. No person from the Pataudi household was there both, for the Pataudi medal, which was to be offered to the successful group’s captain. The drawn sequence confirmed how foolish this concept was of making an attempt to make as much as the Pataudis by retiring the trophy named after them. Each time the sequence is drawn, the medal can’t be offered, can it? Wouldn’t or not it’s higher, due to this fact, to have the medal for the Man of the Sequence than give it to the successful group’s captain? And what if the captain himself has had an abnormal sequence and had little impression on the end result?
If there had been a end result and the Pataudi medal needed to be given to the Man of the Sequence, it might have been a troublesome alternative, for each skippers had been merely excellent.”
For the unversed, the ECB retired the Pataudi Trophy, renaming it after Sachin and Anderson. India had received it solely as soon as — in 2007 — when Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi himself handed it to then-captain Rahul Dravid.
