Mumbai, Dec 20: Paying glorious tributes to legendary cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who passed away on September 22 this year, former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has said the Indian's services could have been better utilised as an administrator.
"His (Pataudi's) abilities could have been used to the full extent. He had a wonderful knowledge of the game and had the ability to give more to cricket. I know he had some role to play in the IPL and was a match referee but he could have been used more wisely given his vast experience as a player," Chappell said during the Raj Singh Dungarpur World Cricket Summit on Monday.
The 70-year-old cricketer, who scored 2793 runs in 46 Tests, led the team to victory in nine matches, including India's first overseas win against New Zealand.
Pataudi, whose flair and acumen inspired a generation of cricketers, had lost his right eye in an accident when he was 20. He had served as a match referee for two Ashes Tests in 1993 and also served as a governing council member of the IPL.
Chappell termed Pataudi as an "interesting and thoughtful character".
"He was a charming personality who wouldn't say much. But whatever he said stayed in the mind for long," the Australian great said.
On the occasion, Chappell also recounted the remarkable knocks of 75 and 85 played by Pataudi, fondly called as Tiger, against Australia in Melbourne while he was only "half-fit".
"I happened to be on the other side when Tiger played in Melbourne (1967-68). He had missed the first Test at Adelaide due to a hamstring injury. He was still half-fit but chose to play given the form of Indian batting.
"With a one-eye handicap, an injured leg coupled with Melbourne weather amid overcast conditions and India struggling at 25-5, he played sitting on his good leg on the backfoot. I still remember him playing two stunning shots off Garth McKenzie and David Renneberg both of whom could bowl very fast.
