CSA extends tribute to late Dalmiya

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Sunday expressed condolences over the demise of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a heart attack.

Paying tribute to Dalmiya, CSA president Chris Nenzani extended the sympathy of the CSA community to his family, friends and cricketing colleagues and to the entire Indian cricket community.

He added that Dalmiya helped his side to re-enter as a Full Member of the ICC and also played an important role to ensure their relationship with the BCCI will remain strong, Sport24 reported.

Meanwhile, CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat said Dalmiya will never be forgotten and CSA salutes him for being an iconic administrator, adding that he was the one who cultivated a strong relationship between the two nations.

Dalmiya had suffered a heart attack on Thursday after he complained of chest pain and had undergone an angiogram at the B M Birla hospital.

He joined the BCCI in 1979 and became its treasurer in 1983. He played a key role in securing rights to stage the World Cups in South Asia in 1987 and 1996.

In 1997, Dalmiya was unanimously elected as president of the ICC and he remained at the post for the period of three years.

Dalmiya was expelled from the board in 2005 following allegations of misappropriation of funds and refusing to provide certain documents.

In July 2007, Dalmiya contested and won Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections after the Calcutta High Court dismissed charges against him.

On March 2, 2015, Dalmiya returned as BCCI president after a 10-year gap replacing N. Srinivasan. (ANI)