I just wanted to prove my innocence: Dalmiya

Dalmiya said he was deeply hurt by the allegations leveled against him by the current BCCI regime.

Having regained control of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Jagmohan Dalmiya on Thursday disclosed that he had almost decided to retire from cricket administration but chose to come back only to prove his innocence against charges of misappropriation of funds.

Dalmiya, who staged a remarkable comeback by trouncing Prasun Mukherjee for the president’s post in the CAB elections, said he was deeply hurt by the allegations leveled against him by the current BCCI regime.

“I had played a long innings (in cricket administration) and was contented. I had no intentions of continuing but I had to come forward and prove my innocence”, he said.

Story continues below this ad

“I had two options. I could have accepted that position or fight out the cases. As I was fighting out the cases and coming out clean, I saw that there was a detriment of cricket in Bengal. I thought I had the experience to do something for Bengal cricket”, Dalmiya told a television news channel.

“It is not the power which has brought me back. I had played a long innings. I think I can do something, probably because of my experience”, he said.

The 68-year-old Dalmiya said he would not like CAB to suffer at the hands of BCCI only because he had returned to power.

“There are two aspects. One is the individual and the other is collective. If somebody wants to take me on, he is welcome but dont drag the CAB into it”, he said.

Story continues below this ad

Asked how his detractors will react when he attends BCCI meetings, he said “I dont think there should be any problems”.

Tejashwi’s Bihar election promise — ‘Will bin Waqf law if INDIA bloc comes to power’

Cities1 hr ago

Tejashwi Yadav, leader of RJD, vows to revoke Waqf Act in Bihar if elected, citing it as a threat to Constitutional equality. He criticizes CM Nitish Kumar for aligning with BJP and RSS and emphasizes the need for development in Seemanchal region. Yadav accuses BJP of using agencies to intimidate him and promises job creation for all households in Bihar.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS