New Delhi: Former cricketer and commentator Yashpal Sharma passed away due to cardiac arrest in New Delhi on Tuesday. Sharma was 66 years old.

According to media reports, the explosive middle-order batsman breathed his last at 7:40 am today morning.

He was an explosive middle-order batsman who played during the 1970s and 80s. He was a member of the India team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. After he retired from the game, he became an umpire for a time and has also been a selector for the Indian national team.

He was India's national cricket selector from 2003 to 2006. During this tumultuous period of Indian cricket, he supported Indian Cricket captain Sourav Ganguly over the coach Greg Chappel. He again became a selector for the national team in 2008. He later served as the coach for Uttar Pradesh Ranji Team.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's condolence message:

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the passing away of former India cricketer and a member of 1983 World Cup-winning squad Shri Yashpal Sharma Ji.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Shri Yashpal Sharma Ji was a much beloved member of the Indian cricket team, including the legendary 1983 squad. He was an inspiration for teammates, fans as well as budding cricketers. Anguished by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."

Biographical sports film:

In the upcoming Hindi movie, 83, a tribute to the 1983 cricket world cup winning team, Sacred Games-fames actor Jatin Sarna, will be seen plying Yashpal Sharma's character.  83 is a biographical sports film directed by Kabir Khan and jointly produced by Khan, Vishnuvardhan Induri.