Dalmiya gifted new role

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the controversial president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been appointed their first ever patron-in-chief, by the look of things a position created solely to keep him in office after his current term expires.

Dalmiya is to be replaced as the president of the BCCI, the wealthiest national cricket board in the world, at the end of this month. However, his appointment to this new hastily created post may enable him to retain control of the board.

The decision to hand Dalmiya the golden opportunity was taken unanimously at a special general body meeting of the board in Chennai, which went ahead despite an interim order passed by a local court asking the board to refrain from going against the norm.

While Dalmiya's official role at the new position hasn't been decided upon, he is expected to represent India at the ICC ditto current state. Kamal Morarka, a board vice president, said, "The role we have envisaged for him is that we want Dalmiya to represent us in our dealings with the International Cricket Council. Last time during the World Cup and the Champions Trophy we had lots of problems with claims and counter claims over sponsorship and ambush marketing. We feel he is the best man to deal with such matters."

Posted by Sudeep