Mansur Ali Khan: Sometimes M.A.K. Pataudi (5 January 1941, Bhopal 22 September 2011, New Delhi), nicknamed Tiger Pataudi, was an Indian cricketer and one-time captain of the Indian cricket team. He was the ninth and last Nawab of Pataudi until 1971, when India abolished royal entitlements through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.
Mansoor was born to Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, eighth Nawab of Pataudi and his wife Sajida Sultan, second daughter of the last ruling nawab of Bhopal. He was educated at Welham Boys’ School in Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Lockers Park Prep School in Hertfordshire, Winchester College, and Balliol College, Oxford. His father died on Mansoor’s 11th birthday in 1952, whereupon Mansoor succeeded as the ninth Nawab of Pataudi. While the princely state of Pataudi had been merged with India after the end of the British Raj in 1947, Mansoor inherited the titular dignity of Nawab of Pataudi. He held the title until the entitlements were abolished by the Government of India through the 26th amendment to the constitution in 1971.
Pataudi Jr., as Mansoor came to be known during his cricket career, was a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler. He 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. However, even though it was debated of being end of a career in cricket, Pataudi, was soon at nets learning to play cricket with one eye.
In March 1962, Mansoor was elevated to the captaincy of the Indian cricket team after Nari Contractor was out of game due to injury. Until 2004 when he was surpassed by Tatenda Taibu, he held the world record for the youngest test captain, and to date (2011) holds the record for the youngest Indian captain. He had a batting average of 34. Mansoor was captain of the Indian cricket team in 40 matches, only 9 of which resulted in victory for his team. But those included India’s first ever Test match win overseas against New Zealand in 1968. India went on to win that series, making it their first ever Test series win overseas. He was dropped as captain of the Indian cricket team in 1970, and as a player in 1975.
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.
In 1961, he lost vision in his one eye permanently, due to a car accident. However, he continued to play cricket and was later elevated to Captain Indian test cricket team in 1962.
| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |||
| Bowling style | Right-arm medium | |||
| International information | ||||
| National side | Indian | |||
| Career statistics | ||||
| Competition | Tests | First-class | ||
| Matches | 46 | 310 | ||
| Runs scored | 2793 | 15425 | ||
| Batting average | 34.91 | 33.67 | ||
| 100s/50s | 6/16 | 33/75 | ||
| Top score | 203* | 203* | ||
| Balls bowled | 132 | 1192 | ||
| Wickets | 1 | 10 | ||
| Bowling average | 88.00 | 77.59 | ||
| 5 wickets in innings | – | – | ||
| 10 wickets in match | – | – | ||
| Best bowling | 20 | 1/0 | ||
| Catches/stumpings | 27/- | 208/- | ||
| Source: EspnCricinfo.com, 27 September 2011 | ||||
On 27 December 1969, Mansoor married actress Sharmila Tagore. Their son Saif Ali Khan was born on 16 August 1970. They are the parents of three children:
* Saif Ali Khan, a Bollywood actor;
* Soha Ali Khan, a Bollywood actress;
* Saba Ali Khan a jewellery designer.
In June 2005, Mansoor Ali Khan was arrested for poaching Blackbuck deer, a protected species in India. He was released on bail after two days in jail.
His uncle was General Sher Ali Khan, and his first cousin Nawab Shahryar Khan, who was the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.
Pataudi, 70, was admitted to New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on 29 August 2011 with an acute lung infection. The infection was caused by chronic interstitial lung disease which prevented his lungs from exchanging oxygen properly. He died of respiratory failure on 22 September 2011 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.