‘Disappointing that BCCI is considering to retire the Pataudi trophy,’ says Soha Ali Khan: ‘My father’s contribution to Indian cricket has been immense’

Soha Ali Khan, daughter of late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, said that she was disappointed in BCCI's decision of retiring Pataudi trophy.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | April 8, 2025 07:14 PM IST

3 min read

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi with Sharmila Tagore

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore were married for 43 years. (Photo: Express Archives)

Actor Saif Ali Khan’s father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was one of the most popular cricketers of his generation. Recently, actor Sharmila Tagore, who was married to Mansoor for 43 years, until his passing in 2011, expressed her disappointment as BCCI and ECB have reportedly decided to retire the Pataudi trophy, which is a Test series between India and England. Now, their daughter Soha Ali Khan said that she is disappointed to learn about BCCI and ECB’s move as her father was one of the pioneers whose contribution was pivotal in making an international Indian cricket team in those early days.

Talking to Zoom, Soha said, “For us, it is disappointing that they are considering or have chosen to retire the Pataudi trophy because I think that my father’s contribution to Indian cricket has been immense and in some form, I feel that it is important to recognise the contribution of the people in early years, especially somebody like him, who really inculcated the sense of Indian-ness and oneness and a sense of pride, winning the first overseas test and things like that.” She added, “I think he should be remembered in some form, in some way and hopefully the BCCI will consider some other way of doing that, if not this.”

Previously, Sharmila Tagore had said that she was “hurt” by BCCI’s decision of retiring the Pataudi trophy. She shared with Hindustan Times, “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.”

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Pataudi trophy got its name after Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and the series is played between India and England as he represented both teams on three occasions. Later, his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi represented the Indian side and was also a captain of the Indian team. Veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, in his latest column for Sportstar wrote that the retiring the trophy “shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contribution made by the Pataudis to cricket in both England and India.”

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