Sharmila Tagore is seemingly hurt as she reacts to BCCI's decision to retire the 'Pataudi' trophy: ‘If they don't want to remember Tiger’s legacy....'

The

Pataudi Trophy

’s uncertain future

A year full of challenges for the Pataudi family

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When Sharmila discussed her inter-faith marriage to Tiger Pataudi

Back in 1968, India witnessed a fairy-tale romance between Bollywood’s beloved leading lady Sharmila Tagore and the country’s dashing cricket captain, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi . Their union was more than just a marriage, it was a fusion of two of India’s greatest passions, cinema and cricket. While ‘Tiger’ Pataudi’s legacy has long been celebrated, the recent reports suggest that a trophy on his prestigious name will be retired and that has dishearted fans.In 2007 a trophy called the 'Pataudi Trophy' was introduced, in honour of the beloved cricketer, to mark the first-ever India-England Test match in 1932, which has become a cherished part of cricketing history. However, reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are considering retiring this prestigious trophy. Though an official confirmation is still awaited, the news has already stirred strong emotions within the Pataudi family and among cricket fans.Sharmila has now reacted to these rumours of BCCI retired the Pataudi trophy. She was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, “I haven’t heard from them, but the ECB has sent a letter to Saif that they are retiring the trophy. If the BCCI wants to or does not want to remember Tiger’s legacy, it is for them to decide." The news portal also added that the actress is hurt by this decision.The trophy has had a troubled history. The Pataudi family was unhappy as it was not officially recognised by both cricket boards. In November 2012, Sharmila wrote to BCCI president N Srinivasan, asking for the India-England Test trophy to be named after her late husband. BCCI declined, saying the home Test trophy was already named after Anthony De Mello. Instead, BCCI started the Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial Lecture in 2013. Sunil Gavaskar gave the first lecture, followed by Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Farokh Engineer, Kevin Pietersen, and Virender Sehwag, who spoke last in 2020This news follows a series of difficult events for the Pataudi family. Earlier this year, Saif Ali Khan was the victim of a violent home invasion, sustaining multiple stab wounds while bravely defending his family. To add to their woes, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed him to approach the appellate authority after the central government declared the family’s ancestral properties, valued at Rs 15,000 crore, as ‘enemy property.’The ‘Chupke Chupke’ actress, who was married to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi until his passing in 2011, has always been an ardent supporter of preserving her late husband’s cricketing legacy. The thought of the Pataudi Trophy being retired only adds to her concerns. As of now, the BCCI has not issued an official statement on the matter.In an interview with Simi Grewal, the actress discussed her inter-faith marriage and conversion to Islam. She adopted the name Ayesha and shared, “It wasn’t easy nor was it very difficult. It had to be faced and understood. You couldn’t be very flippant about it.” She admitted that before her conversion, she wasn’t deeply religious but later reflected, “Now, I think I know more about Hinduism and Islam.” When asked about her name Ayesha, she revealed that Mansoor had suggested it. Her journey involved understanding both faiths, making her more aware of religious traditions and beliefs.

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