Mizoram Under-19 coach Murtaza Lodhgar passes away due to heart attack

In a shocking turn of events, Mizoram Under-19 head coach Murtaza Lodhgar breathed his last on Friday (17 September). He died of cardiac arrest in Vishakhapatnam. He was with the colts’ team for the upcoming league phase of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. But instead, the team will now battle it without their mentor and guide Lodhgar.

The news of the Mizoram coach passing away was confirmed by Avishek Dalmiya, Association Bengal president. Murtaza went for a walk after the dinner with the team’s physio and this is when he felt some problem in the chest and collapsed on the road.

“The tragedy happened just after dinner,” Dalmiya said according to Hindustan Times. “Murtu bhai (as he was known in Bengal circles) along with team’s physio went out for an after-dinner walk and suddenly felt enormous chest pain and fell on the road. The physio and other team members immediately took him to the hospital where he was declared brought dead late on Friday.”

Dalmiya further opined how this loss was huge and irreplaceable. Apart from being the coach of the Mizoram Under-19 team, Lodhgar also immensely contributed to the first division club Rajasthan SC. He also served as a coach with the women’s team with equal distinction.

“I still can’t believe that Murtu bhai is no more. It is a personal loss for me as he was one of the pillars of first division club Rajasthan SC. He was one of the most loved cricketers in our fraternity and also worked with our women’s team with distinction. It’s an irreparable loss,” Dalmiya added.

Murtaza Lodhgar a powerhouse performer of club cricket in Bengal

Before he began his coaching career, Lodhgar was known for spinning a web during his club days and for the Bengal Ranji team. People who were closely associated with him used to tell stories about how his slow-left arm spin would be effective back then, He also featured in nine Ranji games for Bengal and ended up picking 34 wickets.

His five-wicket haul against Karnataka in the 2004-05 Ranji season was the highlight of his short career. Cricketer-turned-expert Deep Dasgupta, who played and knew Lodhgar from the close quarters, took to Twitter to pay condolences to his former teammate. “Gone way to early my friend,” he said.