Ian Chappell pays tribute to Jagmohan Dalmiya

Chappell recalls his meeting with late Dalmiya

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell paid his tribute to late Jagmohan Dalmiya by recalling his past meetings with him. He said "Dalmiya was a rarity among administrators and that history should judge him kindly".

The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) President Dalmiya passed away yesterday at the age of 75. He was recently hospitalised after a cardiac arrest on September 17, 2015, in BM Birla hospital in Kolkata’s Alipore area.

Chappell talked about the visionary Indian administrator and said that he was the one man who stood firm when English and the Aussies boards started taking charge of the game.

"To me Jaggu was a rarity amongst administrators because he genuinely wanted to listen to the opinions of former players. I felt he also wanted to have former players involved in the real, hard, decision-making process of administration," Chappell told ESPNcricinfo in an interview.

He continued: "I think he was an Indian administrator who stood firm at a time when the English and Australian administrators were used to getting their own way. And I think that's why he copped a lot of criticism from those two areas because he wasn't one who just bowed down and rolled over.

"I think if Jaggu had stayed on a bit longer as ICC president, I'm sure today there would be a World Test Championship," the Austrlian great opined.

According to Chappell, Dalmiya did a lot for the game of cricket and history should judge him very kindly.

"I think history should judge Jaggu very kindly. I think he did a hell of a lot for the game. Not just the financial side, he cared about the game. He had some very good ideas. He was also very keen on having ex-players, who were mentors, getting (them as) a group together to promote cricket in many different parts of the world.

"And once Jaggu moved on from the presidency, those ideas just seemed to disappear. I hope that he's remembered for a lot of that work."

The 71-year-old cricketer turned analyst took a walk down memory lane, remembering his first meeting with Dalmiya in Kolkata.

"I'll never forget the first time I met Jaggu. We were in Calcutta in the lead-up to the 1996 World Cup. I was there as an ex-captain, we did a thing inside Salt Lake Stadium and he said we've got a motorcade going back. I asked him if it'll be worth doing it and he said 'Ian, it'll be one of the great experiences of your life'.

"I went on that motorcade and I had never seen so many people in my life. And so many happy people, throwing flower petals, waving, smiling," recalled Chappell.

The right-handed batsman played 75 Test matches for the Kangaroos in which he has scored 5345 runs at an average of 42.42.