‘Pakistan cricket has lost a sincere friend’, says Chairman PCB Shaharyar M. Khan
LAHORE–September 21, 2015: Chairman PCB Shaharyar Mohammad Khan, Chairman Executive Committee Najam Sethi and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad have offered their heartfelt condolences on the demise of former ICC and presently BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.
“I have been deeply shocked and dismayed at the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Chairman of BCCI. It is a profound loss to me as he was a personal friend and a sincere well-wisher of Pakistan cricket. I knew him during my first tenure as chairman as a colleague in the ICC and later as its Chairman.
“It was when Dalmiya was at the helm of Indian Cricket that we arranged the landmark 2004 series in difficult circumstances. Who can forget that during the Calcutta Test 1999, Dalmiya strode out into the arena with Sachin Tendulkar to pacify a crowd of 90,000 that were furious and agitated at the latter’s controversial run out? He took this intrepid step so that the match could be resumed and calm restored. He succeeded even though Pakistan eventually won the match.
“He also invited Pakistan to play the BCCI’s Jubilee match in Kolkata. He told me that he had a choice between nine Test-playing nations but wanted Pakistan to play the historic match before a capacity crowd.
“I deeply mourn Jagmohan Dalmiya’s passing away and hasten to convey my deepest condolences to his family. Pakistan cricket has lost a sincere friend. May his soul rest in peace.”
