Legendary Cricket Coach M S Qureshi Passes Away in Ahmedabad, Leaves Enduring Legacy
Ahmedabad: The cricketing community mourns the loss of an iconic figure as M S Qureshi, a revered coach who shaped the lives of nearly 80,000 players, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80. He breathed his last at the home of his former student and lifelong carer, Sanjay Limbachiya, where he had resided for three decades, marking the poignant end of a partnership that transcended sport and cultural boundaries.
A Bond Forged in Compassion and Cricket
The extraordinary relationship between Qureshi and Limbachiya began in 1987 when Limbachiya sought coaching but had to drop out after three months due to financial constraints. Recognizing raw talent, Qureshi traced the boy's address and persuaded his father to allow continued training. When Limbachiya's father expressed inability to pay fees while supporting five children, Qureshi not only waived the charges but went a step further by committing to bear the expenses for Limbachiya's education.
This act of kindness blossomed into a deep familial bond. After Limbachiya scored a century in a crucial match, his father, moved by gratitude, constructed two rooms on the first floor of their Ghatlodia house and invited Qureshi to live with the family. Qureshi, who was single, moved in with the Limbachiyas in 1992 and later relocated with them to a new house in Gurukul, remaining an integral part of the household until his final moments.
Sanjay Limbachiya reflected, "When my father renovated our home, he built an extra room over the existing structure and asked Qureshi sir to stay there for his lifetime. My father died in his arms, and today he died at our place. After my father's death, Qureshi sir was the head of our family." Limbachiya accompanied Qureshi's body to Jamnagar for the last rites, where the coach's relatives reside.
A Coaching Career Rooted in Generosity
Qureshi moved to Ahmedabad from Jamnagar in 1977, initially umpiring local matches before embarking on a coaching journey. He began imparting structured training at the Sardar Patel Stadium before shifting to a ground in Paldi. Iqbal Shaikh, who became his student in 1978 and later served as a long-time assistant, recalled, "I didn't have the white outfit for training. Qureshi bought that as well as the kit for me. Money was secondary to him. Honing the cricketing skills of youngsters was more important."
Shaikh noted that Qureshi emphasized fielding before refining batting and bowling skills, instilling discipline and technique in every budding cricketer. His approach was not just about sport but character-building, as echoed in tributes from the cricketing fraternity.
Tributes Pour In for a Selfless Mentor
Former Gujarat Cricket Association joint secretary Hitesh Patel penned a heartfelt note, stating, "Qureshi Sir has left the outfield for heavenly abode. But he will never leave our hearts. He never charged a fee from the ones who couldn't afford it. Because for him, cricket was never a business — it was a lifelong tapasya." The note concluded, "Behind that firmness was a heart vast enough to embrace every one of us as his own. He shaped cricketers, but more importantly, he shaped our character. He built not only teams but also a family."
Qureshi's legacy is a testament to his unwavering dedication and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on Ahmedabad's cricketing landscape and beyond.
