Dalmiya receives IJHS award

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former president of the ICC and the Indian cricket board, has been presented with the International Journal of the History of Sports Achievement award for administrative excellence in global sport. Dalmiya, is currently the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

"I am overwhelmed to receive the IJHS award'' Dalmiya was quoted as saying in The Hindu. "There is a significant reason for being happy, as this award ensures the realization of my long-cherished dream of seeing cricket as a global sport. Sports administration is a thankless job. And when this job fetches an award, there is some reason to feel on top of the world,'' he said after receiving the award from Professor JA Mangan, the executive editor of IJHS.

Mangan described Dalmiya as the man responsible for taking India to this height of admired performance, success and global visibility. He said "He [Dalmiya] has played a substantial role in ensuring the shift of power, prestige and prominence of the sport to South Asia from where it was before." Professor Brian Stoddart, vice chancellor of Latrobe University in Melbourne, said that Dalmiya was one of the high-impact administrators who has helped cricket undergo a remarkable process of development.

The function was attended by Bob Merriman, chairman Cricket Australia, Peter Chingoka, chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, Mohammad Ali Asgar, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, president of the BCCI and S.K. Nair, secretary of the BCCI. The IJHS Achievement award for administrative excellence will also be presented to Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president and Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former International Olympic Committee chief.