Sachin Tendulkar is being criticized for not doing anything about the Pataudi Trophy argument.

The decision to rename the historic Pataudi Trophy to the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy has sparked controversy ahead of the India-England five-Test series, set to begin Friday at Headingley. Former India all-rounder Karsan Ghavri has voiced strong opposition to the change, calling it disrespectful to the Pataudi family and the cricketing legacy they represent.

DISRESPECTFUL TO THE PATAUDI LEGACY

The Pataudi Trophy, instituted in 2007, was named in honour of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi both former India captains and iconic figures in the sport. Ghavri questioned the rationale behind renaming the trophy after Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson, two modern-day greats of Indian and English cricket respectively.

“If they [ECB and BCCI] have named the trophy after someone, it should stay that way. You don’t just change it in five or ten years,” Ghavri told Mid-Day on Wednesday. “Pataudi and his father were distinguished cricketers. This change undermines their legacy.”

Ghavri further criticised the BCCI for not objecting to the renaming when it was initially suggested. He argued that the governing body should have taken a firm stand to prevent the move. “Had the BCCI opposed it from the start, the ECB wouldn’t have gone through with it. The Pataudi family should’ve spoken up too.”

MEDAL NOT A SUBSTITUTE, SAYS GHAVRI

While the BCCI has announced that a medal named after the Pataudis will now be presented to the winning team captain, Ghavri believes this gesture falls short of meaningful recognition.

“They're saying now the trophy will be named after Anderson and Tendulkar, but the winning captain will receive a Pataudi Medal. That’s not enough,” Ghavri said. “If you’ve honoured such great players for years, that respect should continue.”

He argued that altering the trophy’s name dilutes the significance of the tribute to the Pataudis and sets a poor precedent for how cricketing legacies are preserved.

TENDULKAR ALSO DRAWS CRITICISM

Interestingly, Ghavri didn’t hold back from naming Sachin Tendulkar in his criticism. He felt that Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest icons, should have taken a stand against the change.

“Sachin himself should have told them not to go ahead with this,” Ghavri said. “He is the greatest batsman of all time, and Anderson is a top-class fast bowler. If you want to honour them, create something new like giving players Tendulkar-Anderson medals. But don’t erase the name of the Pataudi Trophy.”

Ghavri concluded by urging the BCCI to act even now, saying it’s not too late to restore the original name. “If BCCI puts its foot down, they can still bring the Pataudi Trophy back.”