RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket Australia (CA) announced the introduction of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, here on Wednesday.

In a PCB released statement, the cricket board announced the introduction of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy to celebrate Australia’s first Test series in Pakistan in 24 years. 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.

This is a perennial trophy that will be given out at the conclusion of each men’s Test series between Pakistan and Australia.

Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir were two skilled, illustrious, and well-respected cricketers who served the game with honor, pride, and distinction in different eras.

Benaud took 248 wickets in 63 Tests from 1952 to 1964, while Qadir debuted in Test cricket in 1977 and concluded with 236 wickets in 67 Tests by 1990. Benaud was recognized in the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009, and Qadir was inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame in 2021, for their individual heroics, achievements, and accomplishments.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins unveiled the Benaud-Qadir Trophy at the Pindi Cricket Stadium ahead of the first Test, which commences on Friday.

At the unveiling of the inaugral Benaud-Qadir Trophy, Pakistan captain Babar said it will be an honor for him to lead Pakistan in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

“I am honoured 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,” he said.

Babar’s Australian counterpart Cummins on the other hand, said it will be a huge honour for him as well to compete for the first ever Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

“To be able to compete for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy for the first time is a huge honour. 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,” he remarked.

Taking to Twitter, PCB also shared the introduction of the historic Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

 

On this occasion CEO of PCB, Faisal Hasnain said there could be no better way to mark the revival of Pakistan-Australia Test rivalry in Pakistan.

“There can be no better way to celebrate and mark the revival of Pakistan-Australia Test rivalry in Pakistan by launching the trophy in the names of two absolute legends and icons of this great game – Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir,” he said.

“The launch of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy will add further context and spice to the Pakistan-Australia Test series, which historically have been well-contested and hard-fought. I am confident that players from either side will draw further inspiration from this initiative and would want to be the first to put a hand on the trophy,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Benaud-Qadir Trophy will commence on March 4 to March 25 in Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore.

READ: Trophy for Pakistan-Australia Test series unveiled