A vacuum has been created at the Board of Control for Cricket level as Jagmohan Dalmiya, suddenly breathed his last. He was the man who dreamed of a financially viable cricket future for BCCI and India, and he was responsible for infusing power into Indian cricket by bringing the game right to Eden Gardens in Kolkata, from Lords He recognized the immense potential Indians had on the cricket field and raised the notch for the country by raising it to a global platform.
Cricket was taken to an international level and made a commercially viable game by none other than the astute Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya who was gifted with amazing business acumen. In the early 90s, Mr. Dalmiya took BCCI into the richest cricketing body league by his talks with World Tel. He had managed to strike a million dollar television contract that made the BCCI stand out globally in no time. Dalmiya managed to get India into the co-host category in 1987 for the Reliance world cup and showed his business tactics in 1996 in the Wills World cup, a feat that was appreciated by many.
Dalmiya who was under the patronage of BN Dutt , the former BCCI President, was appointed initially as the Cricket Association of Bengal working committee member from Rajasthan Club, and slowly clambered up to the position of treasurer and then secretary of the body. His hard work and efforts paid off and in 1997 he was made the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was instrumental in convincing NKP Salve to agreeing to the hosting of Reliance Cup final at Eden Gardens rather than Wankhede Stadium.
Dalmiya, relished cricket from his heart and he played the role of wicketkeeper of the game for club Rajasthan. But he was not cut out for cricket and taking up a place in BCCI was the closest he could get to make a mark for himself in the world of cricket. All this began because he was the protg of BN Dutt who was an important person in BCCI.
He learnt to move like a politician with the help of Dutt and rose rapidly in the field of sports administration. This was not the end of his journey and in a high pitched election combat in Chennai; he became BCCI president after defeating AC Muttiah in 2001. Blamed with unscrupulous practices regarding funds in 2006, Dalmiya had been suspended from the BCCI, and he had lashed back waging a judicial battle and ultimately won his place back in the State association.
Talking about his sud
den demise, former India cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad said: “I knew him personally. It was a huge loss for the country. If someone has got money into cricket, its him. If BCCI has reached to at this position, it is because of Mr Dalmiya.”
His death is mourned by the cricket fraternity and the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar stated that his passing away is a massive loss for the game of cricket. Cricket stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, VVS laxman, Shikhar Dhawan and others are deeply mourned at the death of the BCCI president.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NCP chief Sharad Powar have also offered their condolences on the demise of Dalmiya. Sharad Powar gave a statement saying “I am deeply saddened to know about the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya. He will always be remembered as the first person from a third world country to hold the office of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is the highest governing body of world cricket. He made BCCI a powerful and influential cricket body in the field of sports. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” stated the NCP chief.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, has asked for a state funeral for the sports administrator and has called him an asset and giant from amongst other sports personnel.
