BCCI chief Dalmiya dead

Kolkata, Sep 20 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was admitted to a hospital here three days ago after complaining of chest pain, died on Sunday evening, a Cricket Association of Bengal official said.

"He passed away at around 9 p.m.," CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey said.

The veteran cricket administrator, 75, was rushed to the B.M. Birla Hospital on Thursday night and shifted to the ICU. He also underwent a coronary angiography with his condition remaining stable for close to three days.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with city Mayor Sovon Chatterjee, rushed to the hospital to pay her last respects.

CAB officials and former cricketers too reached the hospital.

"He was a giant amongst sports administrators, a true lover of Bengal," said the chief minister.

Condoling the death, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said: "On behalf of all the members of BCCI, I wish to submit our condolences to the bereaved family of Mr. Dalmiya. As a visionary and a father figure of Indian cricket, Mr. Dalmiya worked towards the development of the game of cricket in India. The cricketing fraternity will miss him dearly."

Dey said Dalmiya's mortal remains will be kept at CAB for people to pay their last respects.

Born in a business family in 1940, Dalmiya was a club-level cricketer. He kept wickets for two teams - Jorabagan and Rajasthan - in the (then) Calcutta cricket league, and switched to cricket administration after hanging up his gloves.

Dalmiya also was ICC chief for three years.