New Delhi: Indian Cricket Board on Tuesday made it clear that India-England series is played for the Anthony De Mello trophy instituted in 1951 and the name won’t be changed to Pataudi Trophy, as has been demanded by Sharmila Tagore, wife of late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

"India-England Test Series in India is played for the Anthony De Mello trophy instituted in 1951 in the name of the first secretary of the BCCI, recognising his contribution to Indian cricket," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had commissioned the Pataudi Trophy way back in 2007 in honour of the former Indian cricketer, to be presented to the winning captain at the end of future England-India Test series. It was conceived to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first-ever India-England Test series that took place in 1932, but the BCCI did not give its official stamp of approval to the naming of the trophy.

Sharmila Tagore, in her email sent to BCCI president N Srinivasan on November 2, had expressed her disappointment saying that BCCI should make its stance clear on the issue.

However the BCCI statement reads, "In 2007, when MCC proposed the institution of Pataudi Trophy for England-India series, the BCCI had clarified that the trophy is already named after Anthony De Mello.".

Pataudi, who had played 46 Tests for India and scored 2793 runs at an average of 34.91, passed away on September 22, 2011. He captained India in 40 Tests.

By Indian Sports News Network