Legendary Indian cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi passed away on Thursday after battling a severe lung infection.
"He passed away around 6.30 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.
After investigations, he was found to be suffering from interstitial lung disease, a condition in which the passage of oxygen to the two lungs is less than normal.
"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 possibility of lung transplant was discussed very early as soon as his condition worsened but he was not a suitable candidate for it," the doctor said.
He was being treated by a by a team of pulmonologists and critical care specialists here.
Pataudi was born on 5th January 1941 in Bhopal, nicknamed Tiger, was a former Indian captain. PataudiJr, as Mansoor came to be known during his cricket career, was a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler.
Pataudi played in 46 Test matches for India between 1961 and 1975. Soon after starting his career, at the age of 20, a car accident permanently damaged vision in his right eye. He ended up scoring 2793 runs at an average of 34.91 with an unbeaten 203 being his highest score.
In March 1962, Mansoor was elevated to the captaincy of the Indian cricket team. He had a batting average of 34. Mansoor was captain of the Indian cricket team in 40 matches. He was dropped as captain of the Indian cricket team in 1970.
Between 1957 and 1970 Mansoor, following his countrymen Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji played 137 first class matches for Sussex County Cricket Club scoring 3054 runs at an average of 22.29.
On 27 December 1969, Mansoor married with SharmilaTagore. Their son Saif Ali Khan was born on 16 August 1970.
