BCCI blasts CA for 'appalling and embarrassing' behavior towards Sunil Gavaskar at BGT presentation

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has hit out at Cricket Australia (CA) for ignoring Sunil Gavaskar during the presentation ceremony of the recently concluded five-match Test series between India and Australia.

Even though the trophy is named after Gavaskar and former Australia captain Allan Border, CA decided against inviting the legendary Indian batsman on the stage for the presentation ceremony. Gavaskar was present at the venue, plying his trade as a commentator but did not get the invitation from CA.

Australia beat India by 6 wickets in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. The victorious Australia team received the trophy from Border near the SCG Members’ Stand while Gavaskar was watching the proceedings from a handful of meters away.

Later, Gavaskar himself expressed his disappointment over the snub and stated that he would have loved to present the trophy to the winning team with his 'good friend' Border.

"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. I mean, I am here on the ground," said Gavaskar.

"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.

Rajeev Shukla slams CA for Sunil Gavaskar's BGT presentation snub:

CA has been facing severe criticism from several quarters for not inviting Gavaskar and Rajeev Shukla has also hit out at them. Not only the Indian cricketing fraternity but the Australian cricket fraternity has also condemned CA for their decision.

Commentator Neil Mitchell was one of the many Australians who called out CA for not inviting Gavaskar. Taking to microblogging site X, Mitchell wrote, "Sunil Gavaskar seems a lovely man. Humble, for a cricketing genius. How on earth could Cricket Australia not have him present the trophy with AB? It is an appalling and embarrassing error."

Rajeev Shukla noticed the post from Mitchell and was quick to react to it, writing: "I fully agree with Neil. It happened when Gavaskar was present in the stadium. Trophy is in their names and one of them was not invited to podium. After four years who knows whether both will be present at the stadium? Both together would have been a rare visual."

I fully agree with Neil. It happened when Gavaskar was present in the stadium.Trophy is in their names and one of them was not invited to podium. After four years who knows whether both will be present at the stadium?Both together would have been a rare visual @CricketAus https://t.co/68GIL0TAyQ

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) January 6, 2025