The demise of BCCI (Board for Control Cricket in India) president Jagmohan Dalmiya has also rocked the Bangladesh cricketing arena. Dalmiya died on Sunday night at the BM Birla hospital in Kolkata, where he had been admitted after suffering a heart attack on Thursday. He was 75 and had faced concerns around his health since starting his second term as president in March.
Dalmiya, the former ICC (International Cricket Council) president, has always been considered as a true friend to Bangladesh cricket. Influential personalities in the country believes losing Dalmiya, who had the vision of making the game global, is a big loss not only for Bangladesh but also to the development of cricket.
“I am deeply saddened. If there was a list of top cricket organisers in the world, I believe Dalmiya would be at the top. The globalisation of cricket is the brain child of Dalmiya. He always worked on spreading the game around the world. As far as I know, he used to love Bangladesh cricket and support us from heart,” said former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Saber Hossain Chowdhury who was also a dear friend to Dalmiya.
Saber witnessed Dalmiya’s effort in helping Bangladesh achieve the status of a Test playing nation in 2000. “He always believed Bangladesh cricket will one day be amongst the leaders and will hold its head high. He always used tell people that Bangladesh cricket will move forward. He also believed Bangladesh one day will lift the World Cup. I think he was very happy looking Bangladesh perform well in the recent past.”
“He played a vital role behind Bangladesh’s Test status. His first step to introduce Bangladesh to the world cricket was through allowing Bangladesh host the Wills International Cup (Mini World Cup) in 1998. That year Bangladesh was struck with flood and concerns were raised if we will be able to host the tournament successfully.
“The BCCI at that time wanted to host the tournament, but Dalmiya, the ICC president back then, always had confidence in Bangladesh and kept the tournament venue unchanged. He only asked me ‘Will you be able to manage it?’ and we thankfully hosted a successful tournament,” Saber added.
BCB president Nazmul Hassan termed Dalmiya’s death as a tragic loss for Bangladesh’s cricket and said, “With the passing away of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Bangladesh cricket has lost a true friend and a genuine well-wisher.
“We are forever grateful for the assistance and warmth received from Mr Dalmiya in taking cricket forward in Bangladesh. It is also apt to say that Bangladesh’s elevation to Test status in many ways was a result of his farsightedness and wholehearted support. World cricket will sorely miss his dynamism, leadership and vision. His glittering legacy in cricket administration however, will live on,” said Nazmul.
On the other hand, BCB chief-executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, Dalmiya was a ‘Tendulkar’ off the field for his organising skills. “Bangladesh cricket has lost a friend and well wisher. We are always thankful for his support in developing the cricket of Bangladesh.”
As the decades of the 21st century wear on, Jagmohan Dalmiya will be remembered, not merely in India but the wider world, as a forward-looking, even revolutionary cricket administrator.