Former Indian board secretary dead

Anant Wagesh Kanmadikar, former secretary of Indian board and the doyen of Madhya Pradesh cricket, passed away on August 15 at 2.00pm following a massive heart attack. Kanmadikar, 82, served as secretary from 1980 to 1985 and earlier served as a joint secretary between 1975 and 1980. He also served as the vice president of BCCI and as chairman of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

Till recently Kanmadikar was actively involved with Madhya Pradesh cricket and as recently as May 2005, he acted as an observer to conduct the fair elections of Bhopal Divisional Cricket Association. He believed that though cricket was a religion in India, the youngsters lacked the right approach to the game. "Playing cricket from morning to evening would not help you," he said. The need is to play with the right approach and proper guidance."

Sharad Pawar, BCCI president, condoled the death, hailing Kanmadikar's contribution to cricket. "He was an untiring administrator. His contribution to the game at very crucial stages will be remembered forever," Pawar said. "During his tenure as an office-bearer for 10 years, he coordinated for the success of the 1983 World Cup. It is sad that Indian cricket has lost an able administrator and a human being who always had the players' requirements in mind. It is a great loss and the vacuum cannot be filled. He has contributed immensely not only for Madhya Pradesh and Indian cricket, but for world cricket too."

"He was always accessible and a very friendly person," Raju Bharatan, the veteran journalist recalls. "He was a very fit and remained actively involved with Madhya Pradesh cricket. He was fondly called as the Judge".