By IANS,
New Delhi : Present and former cricketers paid rich tributes to former Indian captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who passed away here Thursday after battling a lung infection.
Abbas Ali Baig: It is a terrible moment indeed. His health was deteriorating and eventually he had to give away. He was suffering but he wasn’t really sure about the extent of his suffering. He had the talent not only to play for the country but also to lead it to perfection.
Erapalli Prasanna: What we are today in the spin department is because of Pataudi. He had the vision what we could do really on spin bowling to win matches. It is the greatest loss for Indian cricket.
Mohinder Amarnath: I played my first Test under him. He was a great cricketer and a real person to look up to. He used to show a lot of aggression on the field. He showed great fielding skills at a time when we did not have good fielders. He was man of a few word but whatever he said was encouraging.
Sachin Tendulakr: It is a terrible loss for Indian cricket. I had the privilege of meeting him on a few occasions.
Anil Kumble: When we got together for the formation of the Players Association, he readily agreed to become the president. He was the most gentle person I met. He made us feel as Indian cricketers were held in high esteem. Gundappa Vishwanath had great stories to tell about Pataudi. It is a sad moment not only for Indian cricket but also for the entire country.
Rahul Dravid: He is an absolute legend of the game. We never saw him playing but heard so many stories about him from the likes of Prasanna, (Gundappa) Vishwanath and (Bhagwath) Chandrashekhar. He was an inspirational cricketer and that is a fantastic legacy to leave behind. He made the game popular with his personality and leadership skills. He gave a pan-Indian flavour to the game. During 2002, he helped us a lot during the sponsorship issue with the ICC. It was really encouraging to listen to him.
Imran Khan (former Pakistan captain): He was the contemporary of my elder cousin (Javed Burki) and a very popular cricketer in Pakistan. He was a crowd puller. The way he played with one eye was amazing. Imagine, what he could have done with proper vision.
Sanjay Manjrekar: As long as the game is alive he will be remembered. His personality was like Imran Khan. He could mingle with anyone.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth: It is quite shocking. He was one of the most determined and a stylish cricketers. He was one guy who hit the ball really hard. During the 2003 World Cup, I had lots of opportunities to spend time with him in the commentary box. During review meetings in the BCCI, he never imposed anything on anyone. He was a symbol of aggression and style. His fielding was amazing.