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Ashok Mankad passes away

Special Correspondent

— FILE Photo

SHREWD CRICKETER: Ashok Mankad, who passed away on Friday morning, was known for his cricketing acumen.

Mumbai: The eldest son of the legendary Vinoo Mankad and former Test cricketer, Ashok ‘Kaka’ Mankad, passed away in the wee hours of Friday. He was 61 and is survived by wife Nirupama (former National and Asian women’s singles tennis champion) and sons Mihir and Harsh (Davis Cup player).

“For many years it had been a practice for Kaka to make the morning tea or coffee before Nirupama-bhabi left home for a religious congregation. This morning at 6.30 she found Kaka’s body stiff and cold. The doctor declared him dead at 7.30. Rigor mortis had already set in and Kaka must have died in his sleep, maybe after midnight,” Ashok’s younger brother Atul told The Hindu.

Career record

Raised on the Mumbai maidans in the 1950s and 1960s, Ashok turned out for Bombay for two decades from 1963-64 to 1982-93, was capped 22 times by India (991 runs, 97 highest) and played one ODI against England at the Oval in 1974.

He aggregated 12,980 runs with 31 centuries and 70 half centuries with 265 as his highest in 218 first class matches. He figured in 12 Ranji Trophy wins, twice as captain.

Describing Ashok as a ‘perfect Bombay cricketer’, former India captain Ajit Wadekar, said, “we greeted each other on Thursday morning as well as in the afternoon and he seemed to be hale and hearty. He was a prolific scorer for Bombay, a great team and jovial man.

“When we lost a couple of wickets he would crack jokes, mimic and sing to lift the depression in the dressing room. He had a great knowledge of pitch conditions and about the opponents,” said Wadekar.

“He had the uncanny ability to make people follow him. Right from the college days, Ashok was a hero and idol for all of us,” said Milind Rege, who played with ‘Kaka’ for nearly 20 years.

Madhav Apte said Ashok was a very fine cricketer. “He had a shrewd cricketing brain like his father. He would have made a good India captain. In my judgment he was wasted by the Indian selectors. He did not have a settled batting order and that probably affected him. It’s sad Ashok is no more.”

Excellent leader

Vasu Paranjpe, former Mumbai player and coach, said: “It’s difficult to carry the mantle of the Mankad surname. It’s like asking for the moon. Ashok excelled as captain for Mafatlal in the Times of India Shield.”

Dilip Vengsarkar, who shot into prominence in the 1975-76 Irani Cup match with a blazing 110 and put on 146 for the fourth wicket with Ashok Mankad, said: “He did not interfere with my game, he just let me play the way I wanted.”

Brijesh Patel, who played for Mafatlal in Mumbai, said: “I was with Kaka for 12 years. I learned a lot about captaincy from him. Definitely he was one of the best in India in terms of leadership. Unfortunately he did not do too well in Tests. If he had done that, he would have probably gone on to lead India. He was excellent in man-management skills. He had his ways to keep the team together. The youngsters got a chance to mix with the seniors.”

Viswanath shocked

Gundappa Viswanath, in New Delhi for the DDCA camp, responded to the news with: “Oh my God’! It’s very sad news. He was always a jovial cricketer. He enjoyed his cricket and made the people around him happy. He was a very knowledgeable player.

“Ashok was captaincy material. He was totally into cricket; it was in his blood through his father Vinoo. I have not seen Vinoobhai play, but listening to Ashok about his father was amazing experience. That’s when I realised what a great cricketer Vinoobhai was. Today is one of the saddest days for me.” Chandrakant Pandit, who was made captain of the Mafatlal team for the Buchi Babu tournament in 1979-80, said: “I have always been his admirer. To be honest, 75 per cent of whatever I am today is because of him. He knew the role to be performed by each player.”

Gill’s condolences

PTI adds:

The Union Sports Minister, M.S. Gill, condoling the death of Mankad, said: “Ashok Mankad’s contribution to Test cricket will always be remembered by his countrymen.”

BCCI President Sharad Pawar expressed shock at the demise. “I was shocked to hear the sad news. Mankad had a great cricketing brain and was regarded by one and all as a great tactician. In the passing away of Mankad, the cricketing fraternity has lost a great friend, philosopher and guide,” Mr. Pawar said in a statement.

BCCI General Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a press release, “Indian cricket lost one of its stalwarts when Ashok Mankad passed away earlier today. On behalf of the Board and cricket fans across the land, I would like to express heartfelt condolences to the Mankad family,” Mr. Shah said in a press release.

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