Chennai: Popular Tamil commentator of cricket matches in 1980s and 1990s, Abdul Jabbar passed away due to cardiac arrest today.

A distinct voice that dissected the game in pure Tamil, he was very popular among cricket-lovers in Tamilnadu.

The Test matches during Pongal festival were incomplete with his voice. In late 1990s, he even commentated for matches in BBC Tamil and ESPN.

His Tamil was so soothing that LTTE chief Prabhakaran had once called him to his place and honoured. Jabbar wrote a book in which he recounted his experiences meeting Prabhakaran.

Several yesteryear cricketers have condoled his death.