Farokh Engineer unhappy with ECB’s renaming of Pataudi Trophy; wants Sharmila Tagore and Saif Ali Khan invited to present Pataudi Medal

Farokh Engineer, former batsman and wicketkeeper for India, expressed his displeasure with the ECB's contentious decision to rename the Pataudi Trophy, the coveted Trophy awarded to the winner of the Test series between India and England in England, after two contemporary greats: Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson.

The decision, according to Engineer, a close confidant and teammate of the late Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi, ignored the Pataudi family's great cricketing heritage. Since its creation in 2007, the trophy has been named after Tiger and his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who both led and played for India.

Many in the Indian cricket community, including Sunil Gavaskar, were upset by the ECB's decision to drop the Pataudi name in favor of two of the most accomplished Test players. But after a lot of criticism, including from Tendulkar himself, a compromise was made, and the Pataudi Medal will now be given to the victorious captain.

Engineer didn’t hold back while sharing his views with PTI.

"Well, Tiger Pataudi was a great friend of mine. A great colleague of mine. We played a lot of Test cricket. Great heritage, great family. I was most happy when the trophy was named after him back in 2007. On one hand, I was very disappointed that the Pataudi name was removed. I would love Tiger's name to go on, but instead powers that be decided with Anderson and Sachin, who are legends of the game,” the Engineer told PTI.

"It (introducing Pataudi medal) was obviously an afterthought; they should have announced it in the beginning, that would have more credibility, but at least they have done something. Common sense has prevailed, and I hope the Pataudi name always remains.

The achievements of Tendulkar and Anderson can't be argued against. There are two sides to the story. They have named the medal after Pataudis, which is a very thoughtful thing. That must be a second choice to appease a lot of Pataudi supporters, of which I am one, but you can't blame them for naming the trophy after Sachin and Anderson," Engineer said.

Sachin Tendulkar with 200 Test caps and James Anderson with 188 caps in Test cricket are two of the most-capped players in five-day cricket.

I hope they invite Sharmila Tagore (Mansur's wife) and his son Saif Ali Khan: Farokh Engineer

Engineer also believed that by bringing Tiger Pataudi's wife, Sharmila Tagore, and son, Saif Ali Khan, to award the medal, the ECB would give the occasion the solemnity it merits.

"The whole issue is debatable, but they have kept the name. I hope they invite Sharmila Tagore (Mansur's wife) and his son, Saif Ali Khan, to present the medal. Last series, they didn't do that. Fingers were pointed at the ECB for that. Hopefully, they give them due credit,” Engineer stated.

One of the few surviving connections to the Pataudi era is Farokh Engineer, who played 46 Test matches and five One-Day Internationals for India between 1961 and 1975. His remarks reveal a generation that appreciates cricket's history as much as its contemporary excellence.

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