Former BCCI president NKP Salve dies

NKP Salve, who had been the president of the BCCI when India won the World Cup in 1983, has died aged 91 in New Delhi. He is credited with helping India and Pakistan win rights to hosting the 1987 World Cup.

The Indian board hailed Salve's services to Indian cricket. "His contribution to Indian cricket, as President of the BCCI, can never be forgotten," N Srinivasan, the current BCCI president, said. "It was during his tenure that we won the World Cup for the first time, in 1983. It was also due to his initiative that the World Cup was co-hosted by India and Pakistan, in 1987. Thus, he was responsible for the World Cup becoming the 'global' event that it is today."

Srinivasan extended his condolences to Salve's family and said Indian cricket "has lost one of its pillars." In recognition of Salve's contribution to Indian cricket, the Challenger Trophy was named after him.

Kapil Dev, the captain of India's 1983 World Cup winning team, also expressed sadness over the death of Salve. Kapil said Salve was like a father figure to the World Cup winning team. "He enjoyed an excellent relationship with the players and also ensured that there was a sense of camaraderie within the team at all times," he told the Indian Express. "Back in those days, the BCCI didn't have lots of money. But that didn't stop Salve from inquiring with us if we needed anything to become better players."

After India won the title, Salve announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for each member of the team. Singer Lata Mangeshkar, who shared a close bond with Salve, was requested to sing in a concert to raise money for the cash awards. "He made a special request to me to do a special programme for the victorious 1983 World Cup team and I could not say no to him. I could not resist his request and many members of the Indian team were on dais for the specially-composed song for the team," Mangeshkar was quoted as saying in Mid-day.

"Thanks to Salve's enterprise, Rs 17-18 lakh were raised from the concert for the cash awards" BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told the same newspaper. "Salve's passion for the game was unbelievable and he took great interest in the players' welfare," Mohinder Amarnath, former India allrounder, told the Indian Express.

Salve was also a senior political leader of the Congress party, and had been a former union minister. He is survived by his son Harish Salve who is a prominent lawyer, and daughter Arundhati.