Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his displeasure after being overlooked to present the trophy at the conclusion of the fifth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Sydney.
Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), also shared his opinion on the controversy. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Shukla wrote that the presentation ceremony took place while Sunil Gavaskar was present at the stadium.
He also pointed out that the trophy bears the names of both Allan Border and Gavaskar. However, the Indian icon was not invited to present it when it was handed to Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Commentator Neil Mitchell posted on X that Cricket Australia’s failure to include Gavaskar in the presentation was a shocking and embarrassing mistake. Agreeing with his remarks, Rajeev Shukla wrote:
“I fully agree with Neil. It happened when Gavaskar was present in the stadium.Trophy is in their names and one of them was not invited to podium. After four years who knows whether both will be present at the stadium?Both together would have been a rare visual @CricketAus.”
https://x.com/shuklarajiv/status/1876251671963259318?s=46
“Wish I could present the trophy with my friend Allan Border”- Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar expressed disappointment at not getting the chance to present the trophy with Allan Border. Cricket Australia had planned for Border to present it if Australia won and Gavaskar if India retained the BGT. Gavaskar, however, said he would have loved to share the moment with his ‘good friend’ Border.
“I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation. After all it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it is about Australia and India. I mean, I am here on the ground. To me it should not matter that Australia won when it comes to the presentation.”
“They played better cricket so they won. That’s fine. Just because I am an Indian (I did not present the trophy). I would have been happy to present the trophy with my good friend Allan Border,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Code Sports.
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