MUMBAI: Veteran cricket administrator Prof Ratnakar Shetty paid rich tributes to former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Inderjit Singh Bindra, popularly known as IS Bindra, who passed away at his residence on Sunday at the age of 84. “Sad to get the news that IS Bindra is no more. He was one of the top cricket administrators that the BCCI was lucky to have. Bindraji and (Jagmohan) Dalmiyaji were responsible for the strong ties between the cricket boards of the Asian Cricket Council when it was formed. He played a major role in the successful staging of the Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent in 1987 and 1996, particularly the close coordination of the host countries. The entire documentation for CWC 2011 was led by Bindraji,” Shetty, who served as the Chief Administrative officer of the BCCI for almost 15 years till his retirement in 2018, told TOI on Monday.
Shetty said it was Bindra who led the BCCI’s tussle with the then government in the Supreme Court to end Prasar Bharat’s monopoly over cricket rights. “BCCI will always be indebted to Bindraji for the fight against the government which led to the Supreme Court order that cricket matches played in India are the property of BCCI and Prasar Bharati has to bid like any other media rights body for telecast rights. He guided Sharad Pawar as the ICC Chairman being appointed as the advisor by the ICC,” Shetty remembered. Shetty also credited Bindra for playing a key role in the launch of the Indian Premier League-one of the top sporting leagues in the world- in 2008. “He also contributed a lot in the launch of the IPL in 2008 and guiding Lalit Modi. His contribution to Punjab cricket is well known, with the Punjab Cricket Association deciding to name the stadium after him. I was fortunate to have worked with Bindraji for a number of years. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Shetty concluded.
