Pataudi’s death a huge loss to cricket: former PCB chief Arif Abbasi
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi overcame an impaired eye – after an accident – captained India in the 1960s and 70s. He held the record of youngest Test captain until 2004, having led the side at the age of 21 in 1962. He passed away yesterday after succumbing to a prolonged lung disease in New Delhi.
He scored 2,793 runs in 46 Tests with a highest of 203 not out and was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968.
‘Pataudi had vision for the game’
“It’s a huge loss for the game,” Abbasi told The Express Tribune. ”He had great vision for the game and his demise is not only a loss for Indian cricket but for international cricket as well. Apart from being a great cricketer, he was also the very good human being and I feel shocked on hearing the news.”
The former PCB chief had strong relations with Pataudi and often hosted the former cricketer on his visit to Pakistan
Meanwhile, former PCB chairman Shahryar Khan – a cousin of Pataudi – termed the former India captain a ‘fine’ person and termed the loss huge for the family.
“He was a family man and this is indeed a very great loss,” said Khan. “I was in India just recently and he was not feeling well at all. He was a very fine person and shared jokes and always wanted people to have a smile on their faces. I remember that he was often reluctant to speak but once he was forced to, he did it very well indeed. His is a huge loss to his family as well as to the entire cricketing fraternity.”
Career timeline
Dec 1961 Makes Test debut
Jan 1962 Scores maiden century
Mar 1962 Named India’s captain
Feb 1964 Scores career-best 203*
Mar 1968 Leads India to first away Test series win
Jan 1975 Plays his final Test
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (14)
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What people do not know how lovable he was. He spread smiles all around with his lovely humor. He was sharp witty and highly talented and what personal charm - my God! He always lead from the front. He was very dashing and mercurial. Every body around him loved him.
He was the first captain of India who taught them how to win. He started winning when a draw was considered the maximum achievement. He would purchase wickets. Made a strategy of playing to the strengths. Probably he was the first to open with spin in Test Cricket.
He quite often played like a one day in Tests. What a great loss. Such lovable guys are not born often. The way he played for Hyderabad was remarkable. He loved Hyderabad and always loved to live in Hyderabad. His fielding was unmatched. Only another Hyderabadi came close and that was Azharuddin. May the soul of the great Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi,Tiger live in peace. Amen. Summa Ameen.
@ Balma: the Author of the book ' In Custody' is Anita Desai. She is an Indian novelist, half - Bengali and half- German.
Bhopal nawabs and even lot of muslims were pathans and most of them were from area of swat and mardan.
R.I.P. MAK Pataudi - you truly were a prince among men !
If MAK Pataudi could play this well with one eye one cannot imagine how prolific he could have been with two eyes. His 75 at Melbourne ages ago on one leg and with one eye would go down as one of the Worlds most courageous and resolute knocks. He believed that India must play to its strengths and introduced the all spin attack much before Lloyd introduced WI to an all pace attack. He played Ranji Trophy for Hyderabad under the captaincy of Jaisimha a true gentlemanly character even more Nawabi in style. Along with Abbas Ali Baig and Abid Ali this quartet served Hyderabad cricket with flair and passion for years. In an era when fielding was a neglected discipline he was the Worlds best cover fielder and pretty much the best in any position. We must also recollect that his father Ifthikhar Ali also played Test cricket for England in an earlier era. He is survived by his wife Sharmila, son Saif and daughters Soha and Saba. May his Soul rest in Peace !
Sir, Your Contribution as an Indian and Captain of the Indian Cricketers will be revered, celebrated and inshallah emulated by your admirers and generations unborn of Indians, South Asians and Cricket enthusiasts all over the world.
Deb, Mother of shahryar Khan was Iftekhar's saali (sister in law). Both women were daughters of the last ruling navab of Bhopal...what ever it meant to rule under the aasheerbad of the British. Navab of Bhopal had a house in Malir near Karachi...called Bhopal House.
Karachi is home to lots of Bhopalis. One is MQM's rep to the national assembly: Khushbakht Aliya. She is as cute today as she was 30 + years ago when she had a TV show called 'firozan'. I would say the most famous bhopali of the world today is nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.
The old city of bhopal is depicted in Ismail Merchant's movie: Muhafiz. It is the only Urdu movie he made. It was also released under the title 'In custody'. Based on a novel by a lady whose name I can't remember at this monent and is about a present day Urdu poet (shashi kapoor) of Dehli. The film though was shot in Bhopal. Has lot's of Faiz's poetry in the movie.
blah blah blah
Tanoli: I read lot of history and other junk.
A great cricketer. A gentleman to the core. A great human being.
As an Indian I am greatful to his father (Iftikar Ali Khan) that he didn't migrate to Pakistan like his brother and sister (mother of Shahryar Khan) did.
Tiger was the best captain India has ever had. He commanded respect from all the seniors in the team whenever he was made captain of India. He lost his father at 11. This incidence had a sobering effect on his entire life and we never saw him laughing without any purpose. He was an icon in his time and we used to emulate him. He never allowed his physical deficiency to overcome his genius.He was a royal personality and never bogged down in petty cricketing feuds. BCCI never liked him but could never ignore him either. In Sharmila he got best companion. Their romance was most discussed among Indian masses when both were dating in late 60s and early 70s.He was a classy batsman, and ran like a tiger when chasing a ball on the field. With his departure, we'll not only miss his comments as an expert but also a personality with genuine instincts and reasoned thoughts on various aspects. As a cricketer, I pay my respect to the departed soul who was my inspiration as captain and an icon of our times. We'll miss you Tiger.....forever.
@ Balma Very well said it man. who ever you are mask man but true,...
A stylish batsman, brilliant fielder and above all a great captain. He nurtured a team which rose to greater heights under his successor Ajit Wadekar. He brought sophistication and self-belief to Indian cricket. As an analyst, he was known for candour and objectivity. He was never swayed by emotions. I personally watched him play for Hyderabad (Deccan) in the Ranji trophy matches where his zeal and commitment was no less. What was striking about him was the sense of humility and pride with which he played under the captaincy of M.L.Jaisimha for Hyderabad. A true role model for the generations to come. Adieu Tiger!
The passing of a legand, a great liberal Muslim and a true leader on and off the field. May God bless his sould and his family. We love you skipper!
He was also navaasaa (grandson) of the last ruling navab of Bhopal - Hamid Khan. Pakistan's ex Foreign Secretary Shahryar Khan is his first cousin. One of the cricketeer's uncles (chacha) Sher Ali Khan Patudi was in the Pakistan army - high flying guy during the last days of Ayub Khan and during Yahya Khan's government. Probably, he was the inventor of the term nazariya-e-Pakistan which no one had heard of until then:-) Sher Ali Khan became disillusioned in his old age (like many of his generation who migrated from Muslim minority areas of India) with Pakistan. Wrote a book "In quest of Destiny"....a depressing book which probably some of the founders of MQM must have read:-)