Kapil Dev's coach Desh Prem Azad passes away

Kapil Dev

Chandigarh, Aug 16 (IANS) Famous cricket coach Desh Prem Azad, who had coached Kapil Dev and several other Test cricketers, passed away Friday after a brief illness here in Mohali. He was 75.

Azad reportedly was undergoing treatment in a private hospital for the past 15 days.

Yuvraj Singh tweeted about Azad’s demise: “Really sad to know about the death of DP Azad sir, coach of so many great cricketers from northern India. RIP Azad sir.”

As a cricketer, Azad represented Haryana, Maharaja of Patiala’s XI and Southern Punjab. He featured in 19 first-class matches and scored 658 runs and took eight wickets.

He was honoured with the Dronacharya award and also served as a match referee in two Under-19 matches in 2005.

“I would give 90 percent of credit to Azad for whatever I managed to accomplish,” Kapil had written in his autobiography Straight from the Heart.

During Wisden Cricket Awards at Lord’s in 2002, Kapil famously said: “DP Azad’s strictness helped me become the Indian captain.”

Other cricketers, who were coached by Azad are Chetan Sharma, Ashok Malhotra and Yuvraj’s father Yograj Singh.