ECB to present India-England series winning captain with Pataudi Medal

After renaming the Pataudi Trophy to Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided that the winning captain of the upcoming five-Test series between England and India will be presented with a medal named after the Pataudi family, which has a rich connect with the game in both countries.

ECB’s move to rename the trophy after Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson drew criticism from the likes of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. However, following the backlash, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested the ECB to introduce a Pataudi medal for the winning captain.

According to sources in the BCCI, Tendulkar also reached out to the ECB and expressed that the Pataudi name should remain a part of India-England cricket. It is believed even ICC chairman Jay Shah had a role to play.

“The ECB has agreed to the request and decided to present the Pataudi Medal to the winning captain as a tribute to the Pataudi family, which has made a huge contribution to the game,” a source in the BCCI said.

As per the initial schedule, the ECB was supposed to unveil the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy in the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the World Test Championship final. However, the programme was put on hold due to the recent airline tragedy in Ahmedabad.

With the first Test scheduled to begin in Leeds on June 20, a formal announcement on the renaming of the trophy will be made a day prior.

The Pataudi family has had deep ties to the India-England cricketing landscape. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi both captained India and played county cricket in England. The former is the only cricketer to represent India and England in Tests.

ALSO READ | How did the Pataudi Trophy come about – A history

The Pataudi Trophy was commissioned in 2007 by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to be awarded to the winner of the Test series between India and England, played in England.

The move was made to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s first Test, against England in 1932. India won the first Pataudi Trophy, in 2007, triumphing 1-0 in the three-match series.

England won the next three Pataudi Trophies, with the final series ending in a 2-2 draw.