BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya's final journey begins

BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya’s last journey began from his residence in Kolkata. His body was brought to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) office on Monday to let people pay their last respect to the man who made the Indian cricket a self sufficient entity.

The former International Cricket Council (ICC) president breathed his last on Sunday following a massive cardiac arrest.

Dalmiya's final journey began from his 10 Alipore residence. Indian cricket team Director Ravi Shastri and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bigwigs including Secretary Anurag Thakur and CAO Ratnakar Shetty were among those who were there to pay homage to the administrator.

His body arrived at CAB office in Eden Gardens at 12.50 pm where dignitaries such as media baron Subhas Chandra paid his last respects to the BCCI chief.

Dalmiya was 75-year-old and is survived by his wife Chadralekha, daughter Vaishali and son Abhishek.

He was admitted to the city's BM Birla Hospital on Thursday night.

After paying his last respect, Thakur said: "He (Dalmiya) was a dynamic personality and a true sport administrator loved by everyone in India and abroad. He was a visionary leader and a great sports administrator. He will be remembered for bringing in reforms to the game of cricket."

Chandra lauded Dalmiya for bringing in money into the game. "He not only popularized the Indian cricket but world cricket. This game has suffered a great deal due to his absence. He not only brought wealth to Indian cricket but also to global cricket. ICC didn't have even $1000 in its coffers but when he left he brought millions and billions of dollars to ICC," he said.

"I don't think we have someone who can match up to his legacy, it's the saddest day in cricket history, a big loss which would be hard to fill," he added.

The body will be kept at CAB for a couple of hours before the cremation takes place later in the day with full state honours.

(Image: Reuters)