Cricket Australia has addressed the concerns raised by legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar after he was not invited to present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gavaskar expressed his displeasure at being excluded from the presentation ceremony following the fifth Test between India and Australia.
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ToggleGavaskar’s Response to the Exclusion
Gavaskar, who was present at the venue, was upset that he was not called to present the trophy. He emphasized that despite Australia winning the series, it would have been appropriate for both Allan Border and him to share the stage. “I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation,” Gavaskar said. “After all, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and it is about Australia and India.”
Gavaskar added that he didn’t think his nationality should have mattered. “It shouldn’t matter that Australia won. They played better cricket and that’s fine” he said. “I would have been happy to present the trophy with my good friend Allan Border.”
Cricket Australia’s Explanation
In response to the criticism, Cricket Australia clarified that Gavaskar had been informed beforehand that he would have presented the trophy to Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah if India had retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, after Australia clinched the title, Allan Border was invited to present the award to Australian captain Pat Cummins.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson acknowledged the situation, saying, “We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage.”
A Long-Standing Rivalry
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been contested between India and Australia since the 1996-1997 season. The rivalry has become one of the biggest in Test cricket, with both teams competing fiercely for the prestigious trophy.
Australia’s recent 10-year wait for the trophy was marked by record-breaking attendance at multiple venues, including an 87-year-old attendance record being broken at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last week.