CRICKET COMMENTATOR IFTIKHAR AHMAD PASSES AWAY

PRAYAGRAJ: Noted international radio cricket commentator Iftikhar Ahmad aka ‘Papu’ died in his hometown of Prayagraj on Monday night. He was 62.

Javed Khan, a family friend, informed that Iftikar Ahmad had recently retired after serving the Indian Railways accounts department for long. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

“He was a heart patient and a diabetic. Recently, his condition had deteriorated and he was admitted to a hospital. However, he recovered and was at his Minazpur locality home at the time of his death.

“The last rites will be performed at the Kala Danda graveyard, ” he added.

Iftikar Ahmad first commented on an international cricket match during the 1987-88 West Indies-India series. The commentary that began with the one-day international match in Ahmedabad continued for decades.