Dalmiya Wins CAB Election

S. Santhanam

He was up against most of the BCCI members. The Chief Minister of West Bengal had asked him not to contest the election, because his opponent was none other than the state’s police commissioner. Bigwigs like Sharad Pawar participated in the election. There was a court case against him for misappropriation of Board funds. Even his protégé, Saurav Ganguly, had turned up against him. Yet, Jagmohan Dalmiya has come up a winner. This only proves that self-belief, strategy and destiny can overcome all odds.

Yet, Dalmiya might be down even now after winning the CAB presidential election. But he’s definitely not out. He had virtually been written off before the CAB elections as he was contesting against Prasun Mukherjee, the Kolkata police commissioner. What was most remarkable was that all the odds were stacked against him.

In India, with so much money flowing into cricket, there is no wonder politicians are getting more and more interested in making a beeline for the various posts in the state and national committees. With this kind of money it is natural that the BCCI and state association elections are hotly contested. This huge inflow of funds, however, doesn’t mean that these associations are professionally run.

After Sharad Pawar took over the Presidency of BCCI from Dalmiya, there has been a witch-hunting process going on.

What was shocking during this election was the way the state Chief Minister participated actively in the campaign leading to the elections. And, after his candidate’s defeat, the Chief Minister lashed out at the winner, describing him as an “evil force”.

One can imagine the state of affairs, if like the West Bengal Chief Minister the CMs of all other states decided to support one faction or the other in their respective state sports associations.

There is a need to get cricket away from these politicians, who prize the game only for money and power. Cricket must be run on the lines of corporate and the associations must be made accountable to the millions of cricket-crazy Indian public. There is every chance of inefficiency and inaccuracy creeping into the cricket administration.

Already, there has been a hue and cry over the book written by former India coach, John Wright, of New Zealand, who has criticized the parochial selection policy. Instead of going after the New Zealander for his criticism, the Board should look into the system itself and see how it can be improved so that justice is done to the meritorious and that no player gets into the national side on the basis of quota system alone.

A Fact-file on Jagmohan Dalmiya

1978: Dalmiya became CAB treasurer; his mentor Biswanath Dutt took over as president.

1979: Attended first BCCI meeting as CAB treasurer.

1981: Became CAB secretary.

1983: Became BCCI treasurer.

1987: Brought the World Cup out of England for the first time ever to the sub-continent.

1990: Became BCCI secretary after successful 1987 World Cup.

1991: Helped resuscitate South Africa’s return to international cricket. Also became Asian Cricket Council’s secretary.

1993: After a 12-hour discussion, got the World Cup to the sub-continent again. Re-elected BCCI secretary and retained the post for four years.

1996: World Cup fetches record profit of £ 26 million. Won ICC president’s election 25-13, but was blocked as he failed to get 2/3 majority of Test-playing nations.

1997: Unanimously elected ICC president and stayed in charge till 2000.

2000: Left ICC amidst bitter TV rights row.

2001: Elected BCCI president, overthrowing M. C. Muthiah. Stayed at the helm till 2004.

2004: Thwarted Pawar’s entry by pushing in Ranbir Singh Mahendra. BCCI passed a resolution to make Dalmiya Patron-in-Chief but the court stayed the appointment.

2005: Gots international journal of the History of Sports Achievement award for administrative excellence in global sport. Mahendra lost to Pawar.

2006: Amidst allegation of financial irregularities, fighting BCCI suspension, Dalmiya stays afloat as CAB president.