Bangladesh on Monday mourned the death of Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya, terming him ‘a true friend and a genuine well-wisher’ of country’s cricket.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina led the tribute for Dalmiya, also a former president of International Cricket Council, who passed away in Kolkata on Sunday at the age of 75.
‘Jagmohan Dalmiya was a true well-wisher of Bangladesh cricket and his death is an irreparable loss to the world cricket,’ Hasina said in a condolence message.
Dalmiya was the ICC President when Bangladesh was elevated to become a Test-playing country in 2000.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board also recalled the contribution of late BCCI chief in country’s cricket.
BCB President Nazmul Hassan said that Dalmiya’s demise is a tragic loss for Bangladesh’s cricket fraternity.
‘With the passing away of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Bangladesh cricket has lost a true friend and a genuine well-wisher,’ Nazmul said in a BCB statement.
‘We are forever grateful for the assistance and warmth we 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.’
Dalmiya’s contribution to Bangladesh cricket was not just limited to helping the country in achieving the Test status.
He helped Bangladesh becoming the host of ICC Mini World Cup in 1998 ahead of Disneyland in the USA, a tournament that put Bangladesh firmly in cricketing map.
He also gave Bangladesh unwavering support following the no-ball controversy earlier this year.
A group of India’s cricket administrators wanted to cancel their national team’s subsequent tour to Bangladesh, but with Dalmiya at the helm of BCCI, the move inevitably failed.
Tribute started pouring from many corners after Indian media circulated the news of his death late on Sunday, with cricket enthusiasts fondly recalling his contributions throughout social media.
Former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowhdury, who successfully convinced the then ICC president Dalmiya to mobilise support for Bangladesh’s Test status, was one of the quickest to react.
‘Deeply deeply saddened Jogu-da is no more. Cricket has lost one of its best administrators ever, an inspiring visionary and a great leader,’ Saber said in a Facebook post.
Raisuddin Ahmed, a former BCB general secretary and life member of MCC, said the death of Dalmiya has created a void in the international cricket administration in general and particularly in the subcontinent.
‘The void created at his death will be hard to fill up in the days to come,’ he wrote in a letter to Cricket Association of Bengal.
‘In Bangladesh, we fondly remember his contribution towards the development of cricket of Bangladesh.’
As mark of respect to Dalmiya, cricketers and officials wore black arm band during the all ongoing domestic first-class matches on Monday.
A BCB delegation was expected to attend Dalymiya’s funeral, which held in Kolkata on Monday.
But a confusion over the schedule meant no one could represent the funeral eventually.
‘We thought the funeral was going to be held on Tuesday and we were preparing that way,’ said BCB’s chief executive officer Nizamuddin Ahmed. But it happened today [Monday], so we could not go.’
Nizamuddin added that BCB president Nazmul will meet Dalmiya’s family once he returns from Canada.
-With New Age input
