KOLKATA: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, hailed as the architect of India's rise as the game's financial superpower, passed away in a private hospital in Kolkata on Sunday. He was 75.
Dalmiya, who had also served as president of the International Cricket Council (1997-2000), was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack on Thursday.
A businessman known for his marketing acumen, Dalmiya was a key figure in bringing the 1987 and 1996 cricket World Cups to the sub-continent. He took over as BCCI president for a second time earlier this year, after a gap of nearly a decade, but had not been keeping well for the past few months.
A key figure in the BCCI ever since he joined it in 1979, Dalmiya played a major role in helping it to emerge as the wealthiest cricket board in the world, with the lifestyles of India's leading cricketers being transformed. His stint as the first Asian head of the ICC marked a shift in the game's balance of power from the old superpowers, England and Australia, towards Asia, particularly India. It was a controversial tenure, but even his detractors acknowledged that he opened their eyes to the game's revenue-making potential.
BCCI sources said board secretary Anurag Thakur would soon call for a special general body meeting to decide the way forward.
Since Dalmiya was from East Zone, the next president will also have to be a nominee from the same zone before BCCI heads for another election.
The sources said the board could also appoint a consensus candidate, which would be acceptable to all factions. A Union Cabinet minister is expected to play a key role in deciding the next president.
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