Body of cricketer Rajeev from West Yorkshire to be repatriated today and to reach Kerala on Saturday for funeral

Rajeev in front of Old Sharlston Cricket Club. Rajeev’s cricket club Old Sharlston Cricket Club wrote that ‘he was a pillar of the community’. 

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON Jan 25: The body of Rajeev Sadasivan (51), residing at Crofton in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, who passed away on 31st December 2023, will be repatriated today and will reach Kerala on Saturday 27th January 2024.

The body will be flown by Emirates flight from Manchester on Thursday 25th Jan at 8.40pm and will reach Dubai next day (Saturday 26th Jan) at 07:55am. From there the body will be flown again by Emirates flight the same day evening (Saturday 26th Jan) at 9.40pm and will reach Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala the next day 27th Jan (Saturday) at 3.10am in the morning.

Late Rajeev is survived by his wife Saritha S, a homemaker, and their two children, Rohith (15 years) and Varsha (13 years), who are currently pursuing their education in the 10th and 8th standards, respectively.

Rajeev, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, was living in the UK for the last 12 years. Rajeev is son of S. Sadasivan Chettiar and Late Vanaja Sadasivan. Rajeev has two siblings Manoj Sadasivan and Roshni.

West Yorkshire Malayalee Association (WYMA) chair Judin Sunny lead the repatriation procedures by liaising with different government departments in the UK and the Indian Consulate in Birmingham and London on behalf of the bereaving family. WYMA was supported by Malayalee Association of the UK in London and other volunteers and Rajeev’s close friends in the UK.

Judin Sunny thanked Jon Trickett MP for Hemsworth for his support and intervention which led to a speedy repatriation of Rajeev’s body to his home in Kerala.

The Coroners confirmed the death to be caused due to a cardiac arrest.

Rajeev has been a passionate cricket player and has been known to the cricket community in West Yorkshire in London and in Kerala.

In a social media note his club Old Sharlston Cricket Club wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that our first post of 2024 is to announce that late yesterday we found out the news that one of our own Raj Sadisivan has died. The whole club and community as a whole is in complete shock. We have lost a gentleman, a player, a friend and the most amazing friendly guy that you could ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and we are all going to miss his very witty one liners he would come out with. He will be missed by us here in Sharlston, the community of Crofton and most of all to his friends and family. Our hearts go out to them all”.

Old Sharlston Cricket Club opened a book of condolence which was kept inside the clubhouse for members to share their grief. In a message on social media they said: “We are pleased to announce that a book of condolence will be available inside the clubhouse. This will be available for the next month before we send this to Raj’s beloved family.

The cricket community in Kerala will always remember S. Rajeev, marking a truly somber moment

A gifted all-rounder, S Rajeev, showcased his skills as a right-hand batter and medium-pace bowler while playing for the Kerala Under-22 team in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons in the P Ramachandra Rao Trophy, South Zone Tournament. Under the coaching guidance of P Balachandran, he made valuable contributions to the team. Moreover, Rajeev represented the University of Kerala team for two years, leaving a lasting impact with his versatile abilities.

Commencing his cricketing journey as a classic batter, he started at RCC (Regional Coaching Centre), Central Stadium, Trivandrum, at the age of 15, guided by coaches Sri. Sreekumar and Ganeshan. Later, at 17, he became a member of Zeeros Cricket Club, Trivandrum, actively participating in numerous All Kerala tournaments for his team.

Throughout this period, he availed several opportunities to showcase his skills in major cricket tournaments across Kerala, representing the Reserve Bank of India recreation club, under the guidance and support of the late Shri. S Rajesh, former Kerala Ranji Trophy captain and coach, who provided him with more opportunities. Prior to his relocation to the UK, he showcased his cricketing prowess, earning recognition as a silent, calm, and composed cricketer.

Collaborating with Mr. VR Rajan, the head of cricket data management at cricinfo.com in 1999, he played a pivotal role in building the archival information. His commitment led him to conduct regular research in the public library, acquiring the necessary details to enhance the cricket database. This dedication persisted for almost a year.