Countries India and South Africa Format Test cricket Next tournament 2017-18 | Administrator BCCI and CSA First tournament 2015-16 Tournament format Test Series | |
Freedom Trophy is a cricket trophy that is awarded to the winner of Test series between India and South Africa. It was first awarded in 2015. The trophy is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela who won independence for their country with nonviolence.
Background
BCCI and CSA announced that all future bilateral tours of India and South Africa to be named as Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series. The series is named after great leaders of both countries to pay them tribute for playing a major role in winning independence by nonviolence. This has also helped in gaining an "iconic and traditional status" to the series.
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 appeals to each and every citizen of our country to imbibe their ideals and follow the path advised by them
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.