Tendulkar steps in to preserve Pataudi's legacy after ECB's decision to rename trophy for India-England Test series

Legendary Indian cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s name and legacy might still be preserved in bilateral Test competitions between England and India hosted by the former despite the England and Wales Cricket Board’s recent decision to rebrand it as 'Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy'.

Tendulkar pushes for Pataudi’s legacy to be preserved

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who now shares the name of the series trophy with English pace icon James Anderson, had reportedly approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as well as the ECB in order to keep the ‘Nawab of Pataudi’ connected to the series in some form, according to Cricbuzz.

After their decision to remove Pataudi’s name from the winner’s trophy was largely met with a negative reception, the ECB has decided to name the medal in the former India captain’s name, which will likely be awarded to the winning skipper.

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“Yes, there is a confirmed plan to retain the Pataudi link in the England-India series,” an ECB official told the website.

The report adds that ICC Chair and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah also played a key role in getting the ECB to honour the former middle-order batter, who had captained India to nine wins in 40 Tests including their first-ever overseas victory, in New Zealand in 1967.

Mansur’s father Iftikhar was also a cricketer and had represented both India and England, further signifying the Pataudi royal family’s significance when it comes to the cricketing rivalry between the two nations.

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Launch event for Anderson-Tendulkar trophy postponed

The series trophy was officially rebranded on 5 June, 15 days before the first Test gets underway at Headingley, Leeds. Additionally, the brand new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was supposed to be launched in a special event on on 14 June on the sidelines of the ICC World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia.

However, the ceremony has since been postponed due to the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday that has claimed over 270 lives.

“Given the tragic events in India, the announcement may wait a while out of respect (for the lives lost). The BCCI are still deciding on the right time for the announcement. The announcement had been kept flexible due to the tragedy,” the ECB official added.