Unveiling of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Postponed After Tragic Plane Crash in Ahmedabad

The unveiling of the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been postponed in the wake of Thursday’s devastating plane crash near Ahmedabad. The tragic incident, which claimed over 275 lives, including 241 passengers on the AI-171 Air India flight, has cast a sombre shadow over cricketing events.

The official launch of the renamed trophy was scheduled for Saturday, during Day 4 of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s. Cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson were expected to be present for the ceremony. But with the country still grappling with the aftermath of the aviation disaster, both the BCCI and ECB agreed it was not the right time to go ahead with the event. 

“Given the tragic events in India, the announcement may wait a while out of respect for the lives lost,” a senior ECB official told Cricbuzz on Saturday. “The BCCI are still deciding on the right time for the announcement. The announcement had been kept flexible due to the tragedy,” the official added. 

The new trophy was to mark a fresh chapter in the storied rivalry between India and England, with the ECB retiring the Pataudi Trophy, which had symbolised the contests since 2007. The change, however, hasn’t gone down too well with everyone. Critics — including Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar — have expressed disappointment, arguing that it’s unnecessary to rewrite history, especially one linked to a figure as iconic as Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. 

That said, the BCCI is still looking for a way to honor the legacy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. According to sources, the Indian board has formally written to the ECB, suggesting that the Player of the Series award be named after the former India captain. It's a proposal that the ECB is reportedly open to considering. 

While the debate around the trophy’s renaming continues to stir conversations, it’s clear that the decision to postpone the unveiling was the right one. A tragedy of such scale naturally overshadows any cricketing occasion. In due time, the new trophy will be revealed – but for now, the focus rightly remains on mourning those who lost their lives.