Family,friends and Pataudi say goodbye to their last Nawab

Charismatic cricketer MAK Pataudi was buried this afternoon in his ancestral palace.

Family members,friends,fans and the people of Pataudi bid a tearful farewell to former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi on Friday before his burial this afternoon.

The former captain,who would forever be remembered for leading India to their maiden Test series triumph abroad,died on Thursday at Ganga Ram Hospital due to an acute lung infection at the age of 70.

He was buried in his ancestral palace,next to the grave of his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi — the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal.

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Pataudi’s body was brought to his Vasant Vihar residence early Friday morning for the journey to his native Pataudi village where the last rites were performed.

Nearly 15,000 people trooped into the Pataudi palace or stood at the burial site since morning to catch a last glimpse of the charismatic cricketer and the last Nawab.

His wife Sharmila Tagore,daughters Soha and Saba and actress Kareena Kapoor were seen on the palace balcony as son Saif Ali Khan led the procession to the burial ground. Before the procession began,a short prayer service was held for the departed around 2.15 pm.

Among those who came to pay their respects were Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik with his wife,former cricketers Kapil Dev and Ajay Jadeja,and Punjab Cricket Association chief I S Bindra. Kareena’s elder sister Karishma Kapoor also attended the funeral ceremony.

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Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit,and BJP leader Arun Jaitley also paid their respects to Pataudi,who led India in 40 of the 46 Test matches he played and was fondly called ‘Tiger’.

Pataudi’s body was taken to Pataudi in an ambulance around 10.30 am and his family offered Friday prayers before the procession began.

The former cricketer’s daughter,actress Soha Ali Khan,was inconsolable while Kareena was also seen crying as the body was taken out.

Former Haryana chief minister O P Chautala also came to pay his respects but the procession had left for Pataudi by that time.

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Pataudi,who was nicknamed Tiger,was the ninth and last Nawab of Pataudi until 1971,when India abolished royal titles through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.

Pataudi,regarded as one of the finest Indian captains,played 46 Tests for the country,scoring 2,793 runs for an average of 34.91 with an unbeaten 203 being his highest score. In all,he smashed six centuries and 16 fifties during his career.

Pataudi is survived by his wife celebrated actress Sharmila Tagore,son Saif Ali Khan and daughters Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan.