BCCI has turned down former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's wife Sharmila Tagore's request to name the upcoming India-England cricket series in honour of her late father-in-law Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, says a report in The Times of India.
The board said the India-England series in India has always been played for the Anthony De Mello trophy instituted in 1951.
"India-England Test series in India is played for the Anthony De Mello trophy instituted in 1951 in the name of the first secretary of the BCCI, recognising his contribution to Indian cricket," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.
"In 2007, when MCC proposed the institution of Pataudi Trophy for England-India series, the BCCI had clarified that the trophy is already named after Anthony De Mello," Jagdale wrote in his statement.
Meanwhile, the DNA reports that Sharmila had reminded Srinivasan of the BCCI's promise to institute the Lecture last year.
"I have requested the BCCI president to institute the Pataudi Trophy for the India-England Test series. I have also asked to fast-track the matter. I haven't heard from BCCI till now ... I don't know why they haven't replied," DNA quoted Sharmila saying.
“In 2011, shortly before his death, Pataudi was invited to present the trophy to the winning captain in England only to be humiliated. He was present on the dias but was ignored as England captain Andrew Strauss was given the sponsor's trophy,” says the report.