Vijayawada: The demise of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya is big shock to Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). He extended great support to cricket in Vijayawada and Vizag cities under the purview of ACA.
The two major milestones in Andhra cricket’s history - Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam cities selected as venues for international cricket matches and Vizag stadium, which was constructed exclusively for cricket, became a reality because of his unstinted support.
Former ACA secretary Nekkanti Venkata Rao, who was the man behind ACA’s development, was closely associated with Dalmiya or a long time. “Mr Dalmiya encouraged us to go in for an exclusive stadium in Vizag and played a crucial role right from acquiring of land at Pothinamallayya Palem until its completion,” he recalled. Venkata Rao had also played crucial role in board politics along with Jagmohan Dalmyia.
In 1999, Dalmiya and his wife came to Vizag to set the foundation stone of the north block and the inauguration of the pavilion block.
Dalmiya, as BCCI chief in the early 2000, also helped ACA host a three-day fixture between Board President’s XI and Zimbabwe and an official One-Day International between India and West Indies in Vijayawada in 2002.
“There was a clamour from the Krishna District Cricket Association and also from the bureaucrats on ACA to host matches against visiting teams in Vijayawada. However, as the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium we made modifications to suit the international standards as per ICC norms. Dalmiya’s role in ACA getting the fixtures is laudable,” said Mr. Rao.
During Dalmiya’s regime, Mr. Venkata Rao went on to become the vice-president of the board and also occupied crucial posts in the BCCI, such as chairman of umpires’ selection committee, member of fixtures committee, chairman of zonal academy and convener of South Zone.
Along with Indian teams he toured Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the capacity of manager.
Dalmiya also had cordial relations with Venkata Rao and loved Andhra pickles from Vijayawada.
