Bhubaneswar: Odisha lost former cricketer Santanu Satpathy on Tuesday as he breathed his last due to age-related complications here on Tuesday. He was 79.
Satpathy represented three states in Ranji Trophy (Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh); and two zones in Duleep Trophy cricket. He was known for his fiery pace and swing bowling and held many records in First-class cricket in his time.
He was also appointed selector for state cricket teams.
Satpathy played against MCC and Pakistan in the 1960s when famous players like Ken Barrington, John Snow, Colin Cowdrey and Hanif Mohammad represented those teams.
An alumnus of Ravenshaw College, Benaras Hindu University and erstwhile IIT-Bombay, he was also an ace footballer, debater and athlete.
He served as a Garrison Engineer after getting into the MES. A childhood friend of famous painter Jatin Das and musician Santanu Mohapatra, he led a quiet life of retirement at his Bhubaneswar residence.
It was owing to his pen-friendship with Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines that the latter came and settled down in Baripada.
Eldest son of renowned writer Basanta Kumar Satpathy, he is survived by his wife Susama and son Rajesh.
His brother Sumanyu Satpathy was formerly Professor of English at Delhi University.
