Former India wicketkeeper Mantri dead

Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) Former India wicketkeeper Madhav Mantri passed away Friday following a heart attack at a private clinic here. He was 92.

Mantri, who was Sunil Gavaskar's uncle, featured in just four Tests for India in the 1950s but he made his mark in the domestic circuit with his consistent performance for Bombay. He also led Bombay to three Ranji titles and scored 2976 runs at an average of 53.14, besides taking 69 catches and 23 stumpings.

After his retirement from the game, Mantri served in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as its treasurer, team manager and national selector.

The BCCI paid rich tributes to Mantri saying "Indian cricket will be indebted to him".

"Mr. Madhav Mantri's demise is a big loss to Indian cricket. A wicketkeeper-batsman, he represented India and Mumbai with distinction. He was a member of the national selection committee from 1964 to 1968, and served the BCCI as treasurer from 1990 to 1992. He was manager of the Indian team that toured England in 1990. Indian cricket will be indebted to him," said BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel.

"Several cricketers, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar, had the privilege of being guided by him in their formative years. On behalf of the BCCI, I express my condolences to his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace," he added.

Mantri suffered a mild heart attack May 1 and on Friday suffered another heart attack that proved fatal.