Dalmiya's term may end but his work will continue

Most of the Presidents of the International Cricket Council (ICC) have faded into oblivion after they have completed their term at the helm. However, for Jagmohan Dalmiya, the future will be completely different. Dalmiya, whose term ends in June is set to take over a number of other important projects that are run by the ICC. However, for that, Dalmiya will have to take the help of the cricket administrators of Pakistan.

Even though India and Pakistan have rarely enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations, the cricket boards of the two countries have always been responsive to one another. That is one of the main reasons why the Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar managed to get a pardon after allegations of chucking came up. It seems now that Pakistan is ready to repay Dalmiya for the role he played in the reinstatement of Akhtar. Immediately after relinquishing his duties as the President of the ICC, Dalmiya will take over as the chief of the ICC Cricket Foundation, an organisation that will work with the same powers of the ICC in developing the game all over the world. This Foundation has come up mainly due to the efforts of the Pakistani cricket administrators and they now want Dalmiya to head it.

Dalmiya himself has informed his close associates that he has already had discussions with the President-designate of the ICC, Malcolm Grey on the functions of this foundation. However, the present ICC President has already refused to act as the chairman of the Cricket Development Committee. According to him that would have meant ``becoming a senior executive of an organisation after functioning as the Managing Director of the same.''

Other than this assignment, Dalmiya is also set to head the Cricket Foundation that is being formed by the Asian Cricket Council. The term for him in this designation will be of five years. The final meeting regarding the Foundation will be conducted this week at Sharjah itself. Here also Pakistan will nominate Dalmiya to head it.

Colin Cowdrey, Clyde Walcott are distant memories as ICC Presidents. Dalmiya will definitely be an exception to those fading into oblivion after heading the main body that runs the game.