N. Srinivasan, Sharad Pawar Pay Tribute to Old Foe Jagmohan Dalmiya
Current ICC chairman N. Srinivasan and former world body president Sharad Pawar acknowledged Jagmohan Dalmiya as a quality cricket administrator.
They may have fought bitter battles to take control of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, but death has proved to be a great leveller. N. Srinivasan and Sharad Pawar, who once combined to oust the all-powerful Jagmohan Dalmiya as head of BCCI, have acknowledged the 75-year-old Kolkata businessman's acumen as a top notch sports administrator. Dalmiya died on Sunday after a severe cardiac arrest.(ICC Hails Dalmiya)
Dalmiya and Srinivasan have had a bittersweet relationship over the years. Srinivasan is currently fighting a legal battle with the BCCI after the Board wanted more clarity on the Tamil Nadu businessman's status on attending Board meetings.(Dalmiya Donates his Eyes)
Dalmiya's death has changed all equations. Pawar's name is doing the rounds as Dalmiya's successor even as Srinivasan looms large over BCCI matters with his huge clout as a former president and a strongman from South Zone.('Dalmiya Was a Visionary')
In a statement on Monday, Srinivasan paid rich tribute to Dalmiya. "I am saddened with the passing of Mr Dalmiya. He was a visionary cricket administrator who dedicated his life to cricket.
"Cricket flourished in India during his tenures as the BCCI president, while global cricket got stronger when he was the ICC President. Cricket has lost one of its most loyal, committed and dedicated servants," said Srinivasan, adding: "Cricket can't thank Mr Dalmiya enough for his significant contribution."
Pawar credited Dalmiya for breaking the stranglehold of first world countries on the game's world governing body.
"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," Pawar tweeted.
The 74-year-old also praised Dalmiya for making the BCCI the most powerful body in world cricket. "He made BCCI a powerful and influential cricket body in the field of sports. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Pawar stated.