The upcoming three-match Test series between Pakistan and Australia, which is the first one to be played in Pakistan after 1998, has been christened as the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, named after famed leg-spinners from both sides, Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir.
Current Test captains Pat Cummins of Australia and Pakistan's Babar Azam today unveiled the new trophy at the Rawalpindi Stadium, where the first Test will be played from Friday. This will be a perpetual Trophy and will be presented at the end of each men’s Test series played between the Pakistan and Australia cricket teams.
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy will be presented to the winning side at the headquarters of Pakistan cricket in Lahore, where the three-Test series will culminate.
Richie Benaud captained Australia on the team’s first full tour to Pakistan in 1959 and won the series 2-0, while Abdul Qadir played in 11 Tests against Australia in which he took 45 wickets, including 33 wickets in two three-Test series in 1982 and 1988 against Kim Hughes and Allan Border’s sides, respectively.
In 63 Tests from 1952 to 1964, Benaud took 248 wickets, whereas Qadir took to Test cricket in 1977 and finished in 1990 with 236 wickets in 67 Tests.
A legendary player and broadcaster, Benaud passed away in 2015. On the other hand, Qadir passed away suddenly at the age of 63 in 2019.
"I am delighted to give my approval for Richie's name to be on this trophy alongside that of Abdul Qadir. Richie had very high regard for Abdul and the fact that both were leg-spinners has a nice ring to it. I know Richie would be very pleased to approve a trophy the aim of which is not only to enhance Test cricket but also to advance cricket more broadly between these two countries. I wish both sides the very best of luck for the series and I shall be following it with interest,” Benaud's wife, Daphne, was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
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Australia men’s captain Pat Cummins said: “To be able to compete for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy for the first time is a huge honor. As current players, we really are standing on the shoulders of these greats of the past who helped to grow and popularize the game in years gone by, and if my team can collect that trophy at the end of this series then it really would be the perfect end to the Test part of this historic tour.”
“We have our sights firmly on the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, both the sides will have to bring out their very best during this series as this promises to be a really competitive contest. This series will significantly enhance the quality of Test cricket, which cricket fans inside the venues and world-over can thoroughly enjoy. I am honored that I will be leading the Pakistan team in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, we will try and give performances that will be a tribute to these two legends who will always remain legends of the game,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said.
(PCB and CA inputs)
