India-South Africa cricket series named Gandhi-Mandela Series

New Delhi, August 31 -  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday announced that they will title all future bilateral series between the two countries 'The Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Series'.

Going forward, the Test series between the two countries will be played for the 'Freedom Trophy' which is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

"The struggle for freedom has been the common thread between our countries. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela liberated our nations with non-violence and non-cooperation as their weapons which have inspired the world, to adopt and achieve their goals in a peaceful manner. We dedicate this trophy to Mahatma and Madiba, the guiding souls of our nations," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

On the same, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said: "The Test Series has been christened as the Freedom Trophy. Freedom for which Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela sacrificed their lives and thereby allowed a nation to be born free from years of bondage and suppression.

"BCCI, on behalf of every citizen of our country is able to pay tribute to these great leaders by naming the series after them and appeal to each and every citizen of our country to imbibe their ideals and follow the path advised by them."

CSA president Chris Nenzani said: "The revered names of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela leave us with a huge responsibility to live up to the legacies they have left us. Above all else they stood for doing the right thing and persevered at great personal cost to achieve freedom for their country regardless of how long it took them."

CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "For the people of both our countries there is no greater duty than to uphold the ideals of both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. As cricket loving people we must fight hard to win on the field of play but never forget to do battle in the spirit of these two great men.

"Naming all future bilateral series between our two countries after Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela is eternal news for our people and cricketers and I would like to thank the Nelson Mandela Foundation for their support."

South Africa will tour India to play three Twenty20 Internationals, five One-day Internationals (ODI) and four Test matches from October 2.

(IANS)