“I spoke to Jay Shah” - Sachin Tendulkar finally breaks silence on Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy controversy

Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has finally opened up on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s decision to rename the England vs India Test series trophy to the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy.

Notably, earlier the series was called the Pataudi Trophy in honour of former Indian captain Mansoor Ali Khan ‘Tiger’ Pataudi. Interestingly, many former cricketers reacted strongly to the BCCI and ECB renaming the trophy. Now, Sachin has also joined the queue. 

"Let me then tell you the full thing. First things first, the decision to retire the trophy rested with the BCCI and the ECB. Only after they had taken the decision did they communicate that to me," Tendulkar said in an interview with RevSportz.

Furthermore, Tendulkar disclosed that he wanted the Pataudi legacy to be kept intact. He asserted that though he didn’t watch Pataudi senior and Tiger Pataudi play, he indeed heard stories, which inspired him a lot.

"As far as the Pataudi family is concerned, I am conscious of the contribution they have made to Indian cricket. Pataudi senior played for England and for India, while Tiger Pataudi captained India with distinction. I did not see them play for I wasn't born, but I have indeed heard stories and those stories inspire us all. That's why I was determined to ensure that the legacy was kept intact," Tendulkar added.

Additionally, Tendulkar also revealed that he had called the International Cricket Council (ICC) President and the former BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, the BCCI and ECB to inform them that something needs to be done to ensure the Pataudi legacy stays on.

"When I got to know, I called the (Pataudi) family and had a conversation. Thereafter, I spoke to Mr Jay Shah, the BCCI and the ECB, and mentioned to them that something had to be done to ensure the legacy stayed on," Tendulkar stated.

After Sachin’s request, the BCCI and ECB collectively decided to keep the Pataudi legacy intact, however, in a slightly different manner. The winning captain of the five-match series will now receive the Pataudi Medal of Excellence.

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