Mohali: Expressing condolences on the demise of BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, former BCCI President and principal advisor to ICC IS Bindra said Dalmiya was an able cricket administrator and he along with millions of cricket lovers around the world salute his commitment and dedication to the game.
"I remember today my long innings with Jagmohan Dalmiya from 1980-1996 when we worked together to lay the solid foundations of Indian cricket and built it into a global powerhouse. In 1984 under the leadership of NKP Salve we moved the World Cup out of England giving South Asian cricket fans the excitement and glory of the 1987 Reliance World Cup. We succeeded in eliminating the English and Australian stranglehold on global cricket and made the ICC a truly representative and democratic global polity,” said Bindra.
“Those were also the days when we earnestly laid the foundations of making Indian cricket the commercial force it is today by breaking the monopoly of Doordarshan as the sole broadcaster of Indian cricket. This was not as easy as it looks today. It took patience, perseverance and mental strength to fight the monopoly all the way up to the Supreme Court of India. The Court issued a landmark judgement in 1994 which catalyzed the satellite broadcasting industry in India. Indian cricket was further strengthened in 1994 when we successfully won the right to host the second World Cup in the subcontinent. The 1996 World Cup introduced many elements of global marketing to Indian cricket. As such it set the stage for what is a given in this day and age of Indian cricket,” said Bindra, adding that Dalmiya’s passion, energy and dedication was instrumental in achieving this all.
Meanwhile, MP Pandove, Honorary Secretary General, PCA, condoled the sad and sudden demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya. Pandove fondly recalled his long association with Dalmiya who was fondly called “Jaggu Dada”. Pandove said he enjoyed a very cordial working relationship with Dalmiya for a very long time in BCCI. He further asserted that Dalmiya would be remembered for the financial turnaround in the BCCI. He stated that the members of the Punjab Cricket Association join him in conveying their heartfelt condolences to the family of Dalmiya.