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I will miss Dalmiya's ready laugh: Gavaskar

Last updated on: September 21, 2015 18:41 IST

'Jagmohan Dalmiya was one of those administrators for whom the game of cricket was above everything else.

'It was under his stewardship that the BCCI and ICC became the financial powerhouses they have become.'

The body of Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is seen at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday

IMAGE: The body of Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is seen at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar paid glowing tribute to late Board of Control for BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, saying he was someone who put the game of cricket above everything else.

The legendary opener, who shared a cordial relation with Dalmiya, said he will miss his smiling persona.

"I will miss his ready laugh. May his soul rest in peace," Gavaskar said.

Terming him "a giant of international cricket", Gavaskar added: "Jagmohan Dalmiya was one of those administrators for whom the game of cricket was above everything else. It was under his stewardship that the BCCI and ICC became the financial powerhouses they have become.

"He along with Mr I S Bindra recognised the potential of Indian cricket and of the way the electronic media could play a role in furthering and developing the sport. It was under Mr Dalmiya's leadership that the ICC who then had only a few thousand dollars in their kitty went on to have the millions today which are disbursed to the rest of the cricketing world. His statesmanship also helped ease many a prickly situation in international cricket and Indian cricket in particular."

IMAGE: (From left) Jagmohan Dalmiya, Niranjan Shah and Sharad Pawar. Photograph: Reuters

Meanwhile, former ICC chief Sharad Pawar also condoled Dalmiya's death, crediting him for breaking the monopoly of first world countries on the game's world governing body.

Having been a long-time rival to Dalmiya in many a BCCI battle, Pawar took to social networking platform Twitter to express his grief at the BCCI chief's demise.

"I am deeply saddened to know about the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya. He will always be remembered as the first person from a third world country to hold the office of the International Cricket Council, which is the highest governing body of world cricket," Pawar tweeted.

The 74-year-old Pawar also praised Dalmiya for making the Indian board the most powerful body in world cricket.

"He made BCCI a powerful and influential cricket body in the field of sports. May his soul rest in eternal peace," posted Pawar on his Twitter handle.