Former India pacer Salil Ankola's mother found dead in Pune

Former India fast bowler Salil Ankola's mother Mala Ashok Ankola (77) was found dead in her flat in Pune on Friday, October 4. As per reports, the body of the former cricketer's mother was found at her residence on Prabhat Road in Deccan Gymkhana area in the afternoon with her throat slit.

A report in the news agency PTI quoted a police official as saying that the injuries prima facie look 'self-inflicted'. The incident came to light after the deceased's maid came to the flat. She alerted relatives since no one was answering the bell.

"When the door was opened, the woman was found dead with her throat slit. Prima facie, it looks like the injuries are self-inflicted. However, we are probing the case from all angles," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Sandip Singh Gill was quoted as telling PTI.

The DCP also added that the former cricketer's mother was said to be suffering from some kind of mental ailment.

Meanwhile, Ankola took to his official Facebook page and posted a picture of his late mother with the caption 'Good bye Mom'. He shared the post with a broken heart emoji.

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Who is Salil Ankola?

A former India and Mumbai cricketer, Ankola (56) represented the country in one Test and 20 ODIs between 1989 and 1997, picking up two and 13 wickets respectively. A tall right-arm pacer, he was part of India's 1996 ODI World Cup squad. However, his career was marred by injuries, forcing him to retire from cricket at the age of only 28.

While he failed to make much of an impression in international cricket, Ankola had a decent domestic career. He played 54 first-class matches, picking up 181 wickets at an average of 25.33, with eight five-wicket hauls. Ankola also featured in 75 List A matches, claiming 70 scalps at an average of 32.82.

Post retirement, he shifted focus to show business and acted in a number of popular TV shows and in a few films as well. In 2020, he returned to his first love cricket, and was named chief selector of the Mumbai Cricket Association. The former pacer also served as a national selector from January 2023 to August 2024.