Javed Miandad remembers Jagmohan Dalmiya as the man who strengthened Indo-Pak ties

Miandad paid homage to Dalmiya

Former Pakistan captain and prolific batsman, Javed Miandad paid homage to Shri Jagmohan Dalmiya remembering him as the man who had a lot of respect for Pakistan cricketers.

According to Miandad, Dalmiya had a huge hand in making sure that the Indo-Pak series’ in 1999 and 2004 happened, as the bilateral ties between the two countries weren’t really at their best at the time.

As the coach of the Pakistan team in the 1999 series, Miandad recalls Dalmiya to be an exemplary host. The first Test was won by Pakistan at Chennai, however most Indians will remember the second match of the two-Test series when Anil Kumble created history at the Feroze Shah Kotla, sweeping the Pakistan batting order and taking all ten wickets of the second innings.

Dalmiya, who was the President of The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India passed away in Kolkata on Sunday due to gastrointestinal bleeding after an earlier heart surgery. "Dalmiya's passing away has left a big void in cricket," Miandad added before extending his heartfelt condolences to Dalmiya’s family in an interview to the PTI.

Dalmiya was known to be a proponent of the 1987 World Cup being held in the subcontinent and he along with Inderjeet Singh Bindra and NKP Salve were instrumental in winning the bid over England who had hosted all three previous editions of the World Cup.

He also made sure that the final of the World Cup was held in the Eden gardens in Kolkata by getting the BC Roy Club House ready in time.

Dalmiya was also the President of the BCCI during India’s famous 3-2 ODI series win of 2004 at Pakistan, and Miandad says that it was his initiative which made the series happen in the first place.

That tour also saw a 2-1 Test series victory for India, which would again hold a special place in Indian cricket memory in lieu of Virender Sehwag’s knock of 309 at Multan.