A coach derailed

MUMBAI: A visibly moved Kapil Dev said at Ashok Mankad's funeral at Shivaji Park: "Sixty-one is not an age to die. I think Ashok wanted to contribute to the game but didn't find any takers. That should not happen. Old cricketers must be gainfully occupied. Or they will suffer. I think Mankad did. He was great one for man management," said Kapil, who was in the Indian team that Mankad managed at Sharah in the 90s.
From Chandigarh Yograj Singh called up to say: "I have lost a guru.He made me an opener from No 9 batsman at the Mafatlal side. I got a Times shield hundred. He had raved about Yuvraj's talent. We were to meet soon."
Pravin Hansraj, a close Mankad friend said: "On Saturday we were supposed to meet to discuss how Ashok's coaching talents could be channelised. Even a mere offer to coach would have thrilled Ashok."
Wife Nirupama said: "He was sad that with so many coaching jobs being handed out he was not considered."
Hemant Waingankar, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary said: "He had called me to his house to discuss some offers. I was abroad am kicking myself I couldn't meet him."
Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI's CAO, admitted in his funeral speech that Mankad felt he did not had the best treatment in his retirement.
A setback to Mankad was the premature death of Madhavrao Scindia who had made him coach of Air India and consultant of two Ranji trophy teams at the same time: Railways and Madhya Pradesh. He also made him the coach of Air India women's team.