Former BCCI President I S Bindra paid tribute to his one-time administrative colleague Jagmohan Dalmiya and recalled their days of building Indian cricket into a global powerhouse.
“Jaggu’s vision energy and dedication built Indian cricket into a global powerhouse I can never forget & recall today our long innings 2gether RIP,” 71-year-old Bindra tweeted.
later Bindra, who is abroad also issued a statement, and recalled his close association with the late BCCI President.
“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,” Bindra stated.
He further said, “We succeeded in eliminating the English and Australian stranglehold on global cricket. 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 SC. The Court issued a landmark judgement in 1994 which catalysed 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.
“Jaggu’s passion, energy and dedication was instrumental in achieving this all,” Bindra added.