Veteran Cricketer Nawab Pataudi passes away

NEW DELHI, Sept 22: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India's greatest cricket captains ever and whose flair and acumen inspired a generation of cricketers, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday after battling a lung infection for the last few months.

The 70-year-old cricketer, one of India's early superstars and who was known as 'Tiger' in the cricket fraternity, was suffering from interstitial lung disease, a condition in which the passage of oxygen to the two lungs is less than normal.

He is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his actor son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan.

His entire family was at his bedside when the end came at 5.55 pm on Thursday evening.

"He passed away around 5.55 pm. His condition had deteriorated since yesterday. He was suffering from interstitial lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis) which worsens rapidly inspite of the best treatment available," Dr S P Byotra, Department of medicine in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where Pataudi was admitted, said.

"He was unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximal treatment. He continued to remain in the ICU for nearly a month. He had this disease which had been static since the last three months and worsened very acutely over the last four weeks, the doctor said.

Dr Sumit Ray, vice chaiman, critical care, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said he died of respiratry failure leading to cardiac arrest. He was admitted on 29th August and was conscious till Wednesday evening.

"He was in the Intensive Care Unit for last three days and his condition did not improve. His family in all probability will take his body tomorrow morning", he said.

Pataudi, who lost his right eye because of an accident, played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975 and was regarded as one of India's greatest captains.

Pataudi was given the leadership of the Test team in his fourth Test, when he was only 21, in Barbados in 1962, because the regular captain Nari Contractor was in hospital after getting hit on the head by Charlie Griffith.

Pataudi, who was also known for his amazing sense of humour, was the youngest Test captain, a record that stood until 2004.

He led India in 40 Tests and had a successful career despite impaired vision in his right eye, which was damaged in a car accident. He also captained Sussex and Oxford University.

He scored 2793 runs in 46 Tests at an average of 35 and made six centuries, the biggest of which was an unbeaten 203 against England in Delhi in 1964.

However, many experts rate his 75 against Australia in Melbourne in 1967-68 as his finest since he played that knock with an injured leg. Pataudi retired in 1975 after West Indies' tour of India.

After retirement, Pataudi served as a match referee between 1993 and 1996, officiating in two Tests and ten ODIs, but largely stayed away from cricket administration.

Under Pataudi's captaincy, India won nine Tests but it was he who instilled the belief in the team that it could win international matches.

India achieved their first overseas Test victory under him, against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1968. India then went on to record their first overseas series win by beating New Zealand 3-1.

The cricket fraternity reacted with shock and sorrow at the death of Pataudi and said his demise has left a huge void.

Current cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and a gallaxy of former stars paid tribute to Pataudi and recounted his immense contribution to Indian cricket.

Pataudi was the ninth and last Nawab of Pataudi until 1971, when the Indian government abolished royal entitlements through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.

He was also the editor of Sportsworld, the now defunct cricket magazine, and a television commentator in the 1980s but gradually withdrew from an active role, though he remained a strong voice in Indian cricket.

Since 2007, bilateral Test series between India and England have been contested for the Pataudi Trophy, named after his family for their contribution to Anglo-Indian cricket.

Pataudi's father, Iftikhar Ali Khan, represented both England and India in Tests.

Pataudi had taken ill since his return from England this summer after presenting the Pataudi Trophy to Andrew Strauss at the end of the four-Test series.

He was also a part of the first IPL governing council but refused to continue in the role in October 2010, when the BCCI made significant changes to the league following the sacking of Lalit Modi as its chairman.

Shah Rukh Khan is the face of Nokia Champions League Twenty20

MUMBAI, Sept 12: ESPN Star Sports has appointed Shah Rukh Khan as the face of the Nokia Champions League Twenty20.

Nokia announced the Nokia Ke Asli Champions campaign providing consumers an opportunity to showcase the Asli Champions in them. Winners will get an opportunity to be part of Priyanka Chopra’s Champion team and watch the finals live with her.

ESPN Star Sports (ESS) will showcase the tournament to fans in more than 174 territories worldwide. NCL T20 will also be telecast in 18 international languages across the world. The languages include Norwegian, Portuguese, English, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Turkish and Hindi. In India, all the 29 matches would be broadcast live & exclusive on Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD. ESPN will carry all 23 matches of the main tournament with Hindi commentary.

ESPN Software India managing director Aloke Malik said, “Shah Rukh Khan is a great fit as the face of Nokia Champions League Twenty20 and we are delighted to have him with us. The promo, which features Khan, is already on-air and has received rave reviews. His participation not limited to being the public face of NCL T20. As a team owner, he will be looking forward to Kolkata Knight Riders qualifying for the main edition of the tournament. Nokia, Toshiba, Coca Cola, Ambuja Cements, Next Retail and Digiworld have already joined us as on-air sponsors while Nokia, Toshiba and Coca Cola have signed up as on-ground sponsors as well.”

Khan, added, “I am doubly happy as my team Kolkata Knight Riders is also in with a chance of qualifying for this event. NCL T20 is a unique concept as the best T20 teams from across nations face off for the ultimate prize – being Champion of Champions. It doesn’t get better than this as the best T20 exponents bring out their best fare for the cricket loving fans worldwide.

‘Gambhir will take call on his fitness'

MUMBAI, Sept 9: Gautam Gambhir will take a call on his availability for the Nokia Champions Twenty20 2011, said Shah Rukh Khan, owner of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Having finished fourth in the IPL 2011, KKR will vie with five overseas teams for a place in the tournament proper.

The qualifying phase of the CLT20 league starts at Hyderabad on September 19 and three teams will advance to the ten-team group stage of the tournament to be played at Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai.

Gambhir, who is the captain of KKR, is recovering from concussion (caused by a heavy fall on his head during the fourth Test match against England at The Oval).

“The KKR and his own personal fitness staff will give him all support and work with them. We are in constant touch with him, but the final call about his fitness and availability for the Champions League has to be taken by him. If he's not fit, then we will invite him for a match to cheer the team.”

“I am happy that KKR, as the fourth team, has been given a chance to take part in the CLT20. Hope my team lives up to the reputation it has gained; It's time we won a tournament,'' said Khan, brand ambassador of the league that will feature 29 matches.

Responding to question on the country-versus-club issue he said: “The debate has been going on in other sports and for many years. It will continue. But having been part of the IPL for four years, I have observed that the players are keen to give their best in any match, be it country or club.”

“If you are playing sport, you are bound to get injured. If there's no pain, there's no gain. Players take a call on their fitness, but some times their decisions can go wrong and backfire. Injuries have to carefully handled. It's simple to blame the IPL for India's setbacks in England. There were other factors like weather and pitch conditions. We are all disappointed. But only recently the Indian team won the World Cup. We have to be behind the Indian team at all times.''

Khan said all the good work has been done by Sundar Raman (CEO, Nokia CLT20), D. Shivakumar (Managing Director, Nokia India) and Aloke Malik (MD, ESPN Software India).

“People expressed reservations four years ago about the format. Twenty20 is growing, entertaining and fantastic. It's soul-killing for me when KKR lost to Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens (on May 22). But we (KKR) has an outside chance now,” said Khan.

“In all, 29 cameras will be used and all live broadcast will be high definition,” said Mr. Malik at the unveiling of the brand new 16 kg Champions Trophy made of sterling silver.