Sunil Gavaskar angered after being snubbed for Border-Gavaskar Trophy presentation

His name is on the trophy, but Sunil Gavaskar was still left off the presentation dais after a thrilling Australia-India series. The Indian great was less than happy.

Indian Test legend Sunil Gavaskar was stunned at being snubbed from the presentation of the trophy named after him.

Batting great Gavaskar stood 150m away with a television microphone in his hand as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was presented by Allan Border at the Sydney Cricket Ground after Australia’s 3-1 series victory.

“I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation,’’ Gavaskar told this masthead.

“After all it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it is about Australia and India.

“But Channel 7 were told by Cricket Australia that if the Test was drawn or Australia won (which meant Australia won the trophy) that Allan Border would present the trophy.

Sunil Gavaskar was angered after being snubbed for the trophy presentation.

“I mean, I am here at the ground. To me it should not matter Australia won when it comes to the presentation. They played the 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.

“I would have loved to have been there.’’

A Cricket Australia spokesman confirmed the plan to have Border present the trophy if Australia won it and Gavaskar if India retained it.

Cricket Australia admitted it was an error of judgement not to have both men on stage.“We acknowledge it would have been preferable if both AB and Sunil had been asked to go on stage,’’ a CA spokesman said.

Originally published as Sunil Gavaskar angered after being snubbed for Border-Gavaskar Trophy presentation