WATCH: “It just doesn’t make sense,” Clarke slams Cricket Australia for not inviting Gavaskar to BGT presentation

Gavaskar was left disappointed after he was not called to present the BGT to the winners of the series.

Only Allan Border was invited to present the trophy | GettyThe Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 came to an end on Sunday (January 5), with Australia winning the coveted title after a decade.

The India versus Australia Test series - named after the legendary duo of Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border - was clinched by Australia 3-1 after they won the Sydney Test by six wickets.

However, only Border was invited on the stage to hand over the trophy to Pat Cummins' team at the presentation ceremony.

Days later, former captain Michael Clarke slammed Cricket Australia, saying that Gavaskar should have been there to present the trophy to the winners.

“I just think Cricket Australia missed a trick. Now I know a lot of people don’t know that it was planned before the series started, that if India were to win, Sunil Gavaskar would present the trophy. If Australia were to win, Alan Border would present the trophy. So it wasn’t a surprise to those two guys. But to me, it just doesn’t make sense. Like, they’re both there. No matter who won, in my opinion, they both should have walked out, they both should have been on stage, they both should have presented the trophy,” Clarke said on ESPN Australia.

“I think we’re very lucky to have both Allan Border and Sunny Gavaskar in the country, commentating at the right time. You don’t get that very often. Both legends of the game that the trophy is named are still around and are in the country at the same time. So I just think we missed a trick there. I think it sounds to me that, you know, it obviously offended Sunny as well, and I can understand why. I think they both should have been on that stage presenting that trophy no matter who won,” he added.

Sunil Gavaskar himself had expressed his disappointment after he was not called to present the BGT to the Australian team.

After the end of the series, an upset Gavaskar went on to claim that he was not invited on the stage to present the trophy because he was Indian.

“I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation. After all, it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it is about Australia and India,” Gavaskar was quoted by Code Sports.

“I mean, I am here on the ground. To me, it should not matter that Australia won when it comes to the presentation. They played 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,” he added.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 09 Jan, 2025

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