Pataudi’s death a huge loss to cricket: former PCB chief Arif Abbasi
Former PCB chief Abbasi says ex-India captain had great vision for the game .
LAHORE/KARACHI:
India mourns the death of its former captain – some saying its finest – but the grief felt is more or less the same on this side of the border as well with former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Arif Ali Abbasi calling it a huge loss for the game.
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.
India mourns the death of its former captain – some saying its finest – but the grief felt is more or less the same on this side of the border as well with former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Arif Ali Abbasi calling it a huge loss for the game.
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.