• Source:JND
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Sharmila Tagore, the renowned actress and wife of the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has expressed her disappointment over the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to discontinue the Pataudi Trophy. This trophy was instituted to honour the legacy of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a charismatic cricketer who played a pivotal role in shaping Indian cricket during the 1960s and 1970s. Notably, Pataudi was a skilled batsman who represented India in 46 Test matches, captaining the team in 40 of those matches and scoring 2793 runs at an average of 34.91.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Sharmil Tagore said, “I haven’t heard from them, but the ECB has sent a letter to Saif (Ali Khan) that they are retiring the trophy. If the BCCI wants to or does not want to remember Tiger’s (Mansoor Ali Khan) legacy, it is for them to decide.”

The Pataudi Trophy was initially commissioned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2007 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first India-England Test series, which took place in 1932. The trophy was conceived to celebrate the Pataudi family's significant contributions to Anglo-Indian cricket. However, the BCCI did not officially recognise the trophy, stating that the India-England Test series in India was already contested for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, which was instituted in 1951 to recognise de Mello's contributions to Indian cricket.

Sharmila Tagore had written to the BCCI in 2012, requesting that the India-England Test series be officially recognised as the Pataudi Trophy, but the board declined her request. Despite this, the Pataudi Trophy has been presented to the winning captain of the India-England Test series since 2007.

The BCCI's decision to discontinue the Pataudi Trophy has sparked mixed reactions. While some fans and experts have expressed disappointment over the loss of a historic symbol, others see it as an opportunity to redefine cricketing traditions in India. Some argue that this change could signal progress, paving the way for new trophies or awards that reflect the evolving landscape of international cricket.

However, many believe that Mansoor Ali Khan's legacy deserves to be honoured through the trophy, which will remain a cherished piece of cricketing history. It's worth noting that the BCCI has not released an official statement and the decision is yet to be finalised.