The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : No sense of victory: Dalmiya

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 05, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

No sense of victory: Dalmiya

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: The former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, Jagmohan Dalimya, heaved a sigh of relief and appeared to be cheerful talking to The Hindu following the verdict of the Division Bench of the Madras High Court in connection with the television broadcasting rights for the period 2005-2008.

"But there's no sense of victory or delight following the Madras High Court verdict. It's for the right thinking people to form their own opinion,'' said Mr. Dalmiya.

He gave an impression that certain court decisions in the last few months hurt him. "What I can say is that at one time my heart was bleeding and paining because, whatever honest, sincere good work I had done for Indian cricket and the BCCI for 25 years was all nullified and washed away by a single stroke of the pen.

"But despite all these happenings, what I really felt was that the judiciary is very vibrant in India at the highest level and it has been proved that it's vibrant. That's my faith and truth has ultimately prevailed. But the judgment of the Division Bench of the Madras High Court has not given me any victory. As rightly observed by the Madras High Court the allegations could have caused irreparable damage to my reputation. I have been honest and sincere and that's been vindicated by the honourable Division Bench of the court.''

On Monday the Madras High Court said that the broadcasting rights with Zee Telefilms was not a `concluded contract'.

When asked if it was true that the BCCI has lost several crores of rupees from broadcasting rights beginning from the home series against Australia, Mr. Dalmiya said: "It's for the Board's Working Committee and the General body to study in detail about this aspect."

"I must compliment the report (on the Division Bench verdict) in The Hindu. There's so much clarity in the report. I read it,'' said Mr. Dalmiya.

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