ECB blasted, told 'Pataudi medal an afterthought' to reduce 'Anderson-Tendulkar' damage: 'Invite Sharmila Tagore, Saif'
The rechristening of the Pataudi Trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was met with widespread criticism. The England Cricket Board's decision to replace the legendary Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's name from the trophy with the names of two greats – Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson – as debatable as it was – went ahead as planned. The decision did not please Sunil Gavaskar, who felt the rebranding was unnecessary. Now, weighing in on the topic, former India cricketer Farokh Engineer had shared his two cents, echoing Gavaskar's thoughts to a certain extent. Saif Ali Khan, left, and Sharmila Tagore(AFP)
To reduce the extent of the damage, the ECB introduced the Pataudi medal, but not before Tendulkar himself and the BCCI stepped in to ensure that the Pataudi legacy remained intact. Engineer believes that the newly introduced medal – which will be given to the winning captain – is nothing more than a compensation made to please Pataudi supporters.
Also Read: No disrespect to Anderson-Tendulkar, but renaming the Pataudi Trophy isn't quite cricket
"Well Tiger Pataudi was a great friend of mine. Great colleague of mine. We played a lot of Test cricket. Great heritage, great family. I was most happy when the trophy was named after him back in 2007. On one hand I was very disappointed that the Pataudi name was removed, I would love Tiger's name to go on but instead powers that be decided with Anderson and Sachin who are legends of the game," Engineer told PTI.
"It (introducing Pataudi medal) was obviously an afterthought, they should have announced it in the beginning that would have more credibility but at least they have done something. Common sense has prevailed and hope the Pataudi name always remains."
The series between India and England, played in the UK, was named the Pataudi Trophy in 2007 to mark 75 years of strong cricketing relations between the two nations. The Pataudi name has plenty of significance in India-England cricketing ties: Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur both captained India, and both played county cricket in England. Engineer himself moved to England in the 1960s and became a beloved figure there, playing for Lancashire at Old Trafford. As for the two names after whom the trophy has been named, Engineer has nothing against either Tendulkar or Anderson and hopes that the least the ECB can do is invite Sharmila Tagore and Saif Ali Khan to present the award. 'Invite Sharmila Tagore and Saif Ali Khan': Engineer to ECB
"The achievements of Tendulkar and Anderson can't be argued against. There are two sides to the story. They have named the medal after Pataudis which is a very thoughtful thing. That must be a second choice to appease a lot of Pataudi supporters of which I am one, but you can't blame them for naming the trophy after Sachin and Anderson," Engineer said.
"The whole issue is debatable but they have kept the name. I hope they invite Sharmila Tagore (Mansur's wife) and his son Saif Ali Khan to present the medal. Last series they didn't do that. Fingers were pointed at ECB for that. Hopefully they give them due credit."
Engineer played 46 Tests and five ODIs for India between 1961 and 1975.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
Nasser Hussain On IND Bowler's Struggles: 'Couldn't Believe... He Kept Missing'
Last Updated: Nasser Hussain was shocked by Ravindra Jadeja's performance and lack of understanding of the pitch conditions in the first Test vs England. Nasser Hussain 'couldn't believe' how much Ravindra Jadeja struggled to get his plans right at Headingley in the first Test between India and England. The former English skipper thinks that the 36-year-old has 'plenty to ponder' ahead of the second game in Edgbaston which begins on Wednesday (July 2). Jadeja returned with just one wicket from the Test, despite bowling in conditions that suited his style. In comparison, England's much-criticised young tweaker Shoaib Bashir took three wickets. Hussain, writing in his column for the Daily Mail, assessed how Ben Duckett tackled him but Ben Stokes struggled. But then, he went on to mention that Jadeja didn't help himself by not using the rough available, saying that the experienced Indian spinner perhaps couldn't get over the sub-continent hangover. 'There is plenty for Jadeja to ponder as well," Hussain wrote. 'I could not believe how long it took him to change the way he bowled on the final day at Headingley. The rough wasn't extensive to the left-hander, but it was fairly wide and full and yet Jadeja bowled relatively straight to Duckett. He kept missing the rough." 'It is different in India when the pitches turn more, but in England, you have to look to find where that rough is and he didn't find it against Duckett. At tea, they must have had a chat because he bowled fuller and wider against Stokes. He made it a real challenge for Stokes, but it was too little, too late," he added. Hussain championed playing an additional spinner in Kuldeep Yadav but wondered how India fit him in. 'India could opt to play a second spinner at Edgbaston, with Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings," the former batter said. 'The left-arm wrist-spinner may give you more balls to hit, but he will get more bounce, and you will have to pick him because he spins it both ways. But the question for India i,s how do they get him in? It would leave them either a batsman or a seamer short. It will be fascinating to see what they do." India are 1-0 behind in the series. Kuldeep's inclusion could come at the cost of Shardul Thakur, with the all-rounder struggling for substantial impact with both bat and ball in the first Test. About the Author Cricketnext Staff First Published: July 01, 2025, 09:57 IST
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
No Jasprit Bumrah For 2nd Test? India Likely To Bring In 2 Spinners For Must-Win Edgbaston Clash Against England
IND vs ENG: India's preparation for the second Test against England at Edgbaston has sparked speculation over several key changes to the playing XI. With the match scheduled to begin on July 2, the training session on Monday gave the clearest signs yet that a reshuffled team is in the works most notably in the bowling department. Bumrah Likely to Be Rested India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a marathon 43.4 overs in the first Test at Headingley, is almost certain to miss the second Test as the management looks to manage his workload. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that a decision would be taken within 24 hours but hinted heavily at Bumrah's absence. At training, Bumrah barely bowled only a few deliveries at the end of the session suggesting that India are looking ahead to keep him fresh for the third Test at Lord's. Third Seamer Dilemma: Arshdeep or Akash Deep? With Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna likely to retain their spots after decent outings in Leeds, India must choose between left-armer Arshdeep Singh and right-arm seamer Akash Deep for the third pace option. Arshdeep offers a left-arm angle that can trouble England's right-heavy top order, while Akash Deep impressed with his seam movement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year but is still hunting for consistent rewards. Nitish Reddy Set to Replace Shardul Thakur One of the clearest signs of change is the expected exclusion of Shardul Thakur. The all-rounder had a quiet first Test bowling only 16 overs and scoring a combined five runs and is set to be replaced by Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy's dual skills with bat and ball, along with sharp fielding, provide better balance and energy to the XI, especially in light of India's fielding lapses in the first match. Two Spinners on the Cards India's decision to go with just one spinner in the first Test backfired, particularly in the second innings. With the pitch at Edgbaston expected to assist turn later in the game and hot weather prevailing, India may opt for two spinners in Birmingham. Ravindra Jadeja, if fully fit, will return to the XI, while the second spin option will likely be between Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. Kuldeep's wrist spin offers an attacking option, while Sundar brings off-spin along with solid lower-order batting. There's even a possibility that both Jadeja and Sundar play as spin-bowling all-rounders. No Yashasvi Jaiswal In Slip Cordon After four dropped catches at Headingley several at gully India are reworking their slip cordon. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who struggled in the position, was removed from catching drills. In his place, Monday's session saw Karun Nair at first slip, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill at second and third, and a rotation between Reddy and Sai Sudharsan at fourth slip and gully. Must-Win Match for India India trail the five-match series 0-1 after a five-wicket defeat in Leeds. With England naming an unchanged XI for the second Test, India need both tactical changes and stronger execution to level the series. Coach Ryan ten Doeschate summed it up best: the selection tweaks will mean little unless India correct their fielding and seize key moments better in Birmingham.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's ODI Return Uncertain As India vs Bangladesh Series 2025 Hangs In The Balance
The much-awaited India vs Bangladesh 2025 white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is, has hit a roadblock with the BCCI yet to receive clearance from the Indian government. Scheduled to begin on August 17 in Dhaka, the tour now hangs in the balance due to escalating Indo-Pak tensions and the political unrest following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh last year. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), while formal communication of postponement has not been made, India's participation is currently 'under discussion,' hinging entirely on government approval. With the series being a part of the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), its cancellation or postponement could disrupt international calendars. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah To Play IND vs ENG 2nd Test? Here's All You Need To Know After an extensive board meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, BCB President Aminul Islam confirmed that dialogues with the BCCI remain 'positive.' He stated, 'We're in talks with BCCI on possible alternatives. If not in August or September, we'll look for another feasible window.' However, such optimism faces a harsh reality: India's cricket calendar is packed till January 2026, with the Champions Trophy, IPL 2026, and bilateral commitments lined up. If the August series is scrapped, the earliest available window for Bangladesh might not appear before mid-2026, potentially delaying this tour indefinitely. Historical Weight: Can India Break Their ODI Drought in Bangladesh? India's record in Bangladesh in recent years has been far from dominant. The Men in Blue have not won an ODI series on Bangladeshi soil since 2014, making this tour a chance for redemption. The return of senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—both retired from Tests—was expected to bolster the ODI setup and possibly end the decade-long wait for a series win. The ODI leg was scheduled across Dhaka and Chattogram, with matches on August 17, 20, and 23, followed by the historic first-ever bilateral T20I series in Bangladesh, from August 26 to 31. Suryakumar Yadav's Fitness Clouds T20I Leadership Adding to India's selection conundrum, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav remains doubtful for the tour, recovering from sports hernia surgery in Germany. In his absence, Axar Patel is the frontrunner to lead a potentially youthful T20I squad. With India's Test regulars, including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill, likely to be rested after the England tour, this series was expected to provide Gautam Gambhir an opportunity to experiment ahead of the 2027 World Cup. BCB Announces Major Structural Changes: Simon Taufel Joins as Umpire Educator While the focus remains on the India tour, BCB used the board meeting to roll out several strategic decisions:
