New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) Legendary India all rounder Kapil Dev has expressed surprise at the Pataudi Trophy for India-England Test matches being renamed as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, describing the development as "strange."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to rename the Test series hosted by England against India to honour Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and legendry English fast bowler James Anderson.

"It feels a little strange… like, does this also happen? But that's okay, everything works in cricket. At the end of the day, there is no difference. Cricket is cricket. The cricket on the field should be the same," said Dev on Wednesday.

He was speaking at an event organised by Three Sixty to commemorate his iconic 175 not out against Zimbabwe during a 1983 World Cup match at Tunbridge Wells.

The earlier name, the Pataudi Trophy, was instituted in 2007 in honour of the legendary Indian batsman and captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. The decision was questioned by many as the illustrious Pataudi family has deep ties to both Indian and English cricket.

While Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi is the only Test cricketer to have played for both England and India, his son Mansur captained India and played county cricket in England. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is rated as one of the best Indian captain of all time, and it was under his stewartship that India achieved their first overseas Test victory against New Zealand in 1967.

As per reports, even Sachin Tendulkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah are attempting to convince the ECB to reverse their decision to rename the Trophy. The ECB has, however, retained the Pataudi Medal for Excellence, which will be awarded to the winning captain of the series.

The five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series will commence on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. UNI RKM SSP