10 reasons why cricket world remember deceased BCCI boss Jagmohan Dalmiya
He promised to step down from BCCI’s top most position owing to illness and become the Petron- in-chief. He wanted to decorate Eden Garden’s as the best World T20 final host. But, nothing happened. Dalmiya kept none of the promises.
Board members did not get the opportunity to select him as Petron-in-chief as he took last breath on Sunday, September 20, in Kolkata. a plethora of articles are being written by world media on his contribution to cricket. Under his Presidency, Sourav Ganguly led Indian team had become a world beater.
In 2013, at the time turbulent crisis due to a spot-fixing incident the Indian Premier League, Indian cricket administrator chose him the President of Board. He agreed, ignoring the illness. But, his time came. He expired as a boss. He left Indian cricket being the boss of BCCI and Cricket Association of Bengal.
His home at 10, Alipur Road, Kolkata had become his office. From BCCI secretary to IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla everybody meet him at his home for official work. In the last Working Committee meeting when board members were fighting over Srinivasan, he heralded the meeting and control the situations.
The entire country from President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sachin Tendulkar conveyed their “Rest In Peace message” RIP. The entire cricket world has been grief-stricken since the news of his demise started waving around the world. So, why cricket will remember this cricket administrator? Sportzwiki is looking back at this cricketer turned businessman turned cricket administrator.
Here are the reasons:
1. Career in BCCI
Dalmiya entered BCCI in 1979.He became the treasurer in 1983, the year when India won its first world cup.
2. Snatched the right to host 1987 World Cup in South Asia
His administrative skill came into the public domain in 1987, when he had outdone white cricket administrators-England and Australia, who never wanted to give subcontinent the right of hosting world cup. But, Dalmiya snatched the right of hosting Reliance World Cup, in India and Pakistan and then again in 1996.
3. Restored ICC’s financial health
In 1997, Dalmiya was elected as ICC President. ICC was almost bankrupt. Financially weak ICC had only 17 thousand pounds in the account. Dalmiya decided to introduce Champions Trophy and gave the hosting rights to Bangladesh. Indeed a master stroke. Sponsors around the world landed in Bangladesh to sponsor the tournament as it would help them to woo the sub-continent customers. Subcontinent customers drink cricket, eat cricket, talk cricket and sleep with cricket. When Dalmiya left in 2000, ICC has become a financially strong sports governing body.
3. Architected BCCI to become the richest cricket governing body
After the 1983 World Cup, cricket has gradually become a popular sports in India. But, popularity is something, and capitalizing on it for successful business is a different thing. Today, Indian cricket board is the richest cricket board, Dalmiya is the man who showed the path to BCCI.
4. Sachin’s 199th Test at Eden Gardens
He grabbed the right to host Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series as Eden Gardens’ hosted the legend’s 199th Test.
5. Hosting anti-apartheid era South Africa being the first in the world
In 1991, when other nations were yet to think about to host South Africa, who were freed from banned after a long time banned due to the apartheid era. Dalmiya recommended the board to invite South Africa to play India. It was the historic series to South Africa. Clive Rice led South Africa’s re -appearance in international scene started in India at Eden Gardens.
6. Broadcasting rights, a hefty deal now
In 1993, Dalmiya ended Indian national broadcaster Doordarshan’s sole broadcasting rights as he sold the match broadcasting right to Transworld International.
7. Among the best leader in the world
1996, Dalmiya was elected among BBC’s top six sports administrators of the world.
8. Three times BCCi president
Elected as the BCCI president three times, first in 2001 and second in 2013 as interim board president as N. Srinivasan was asked to step aside by the Supreme Court in IPL spot-fixing case. In 2015, he once again elected BCCI president without any competition as board members found him as the most trusted candidate who could restore the confidence among the cricket fans.
9. Boss at CAB
He was elected CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) president for consecutively 8 times.
10. A maverick sports administrator from Kolkata
He was born in Calcutta in a Marwari Bania family on May 30, 1940 in British India, died on September 20, 2015 in Kolkata, India. There is no question that cricket administrator like Dalmiya’s calibre once in a millennium. So, nevertheless he will be missed badly.