President calls late BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya a visionary

New Delhi, September 21 - President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday condoled the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya and called him a "visionary and well known leader of Indian cricket".

"I am sad to learn about the passing away of Jagmohan Dalmiya. He was a visionary and wellknown leader of Indian cricket," the president said in his message.

As president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Dalmiya e played a major role in bringing the cricket World Cup to India, Mukherjee said.

Dalmiya, who was president of the BCCI, passed away at a Kolkata hospital on Sunday evening following a cardiac arrest. He was 75.

Dalmiya was an industrialist whose contribution to the establishment of various industrial and business enterprises helped in national development as well as created employment opportunities for thousands of our people, Mukherjee added.

"In his death, the nation has lost a personality who brought Indian cricket as well as Indian industry to greater heights. He shall always be remembered for his untiring hard work and devotion to any activity that he took up," the president's statement said.

Dalmiya's death triggered shock and sorrow among the cricketing fraternity who termed it a great loss to the game.

Dalmiya suffered a massive gastro-intestinal bleeding and succumbed at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday, attending doctor Anil Mishra said.

(IANS)