Former BCCI President Mr.Raj Singh Dungarpur passed away
Former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur died in Mumbai on Saturday 12th September 2009 following protracted illness. 73-year-old Raj Singh Dungarpur, who was president of the Cricket Board for three years in the late 1990s, was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
A former president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) for 13 years before he took ill last year, Dungarpur died at his residence on Saturday morning.
A founder member of the World Cricket Academy (WCA), his vision to create something better for World Cricket gave birth to the idea of a World Cricket Academy (WCA).
Zubin in conversatio with Raj Ji.
Rajbhai sharing some thoughts with Zubin in his last days.A bachelor from the Dungarpur royal family of Rajasthan, he was also a former first class cricketer, a former India team manager and ex-chairman of the senior selection panel.
Born on December 19, 1935 as the youngest son of Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, the ruler of Dungarpur, he played Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan for 16 years, between 1955 and 1971, as a medium-fast bowler. He is survived by his elder brothers -- Jaisinghji and Mahipalsinghji - living in Rajasthan.
Raj Singh Dungarpur inspired WCA to take the facilities availed by cricket players of the metro cities to the rural places in India. Even when it was difficult for him to undertake long trips, he came as far as Amravati to encourage rural talent. He also came for talent search in the cities like Varanasi (DLW) and Indore (Bhawan’s Prominent School).
Raj Singh Sir inaugurating an academy in Amravati, Maharashtra.
Let’s take cricket to villages friends, was the advice taken to the heart by us. On his insistence WCA took cricket to places like Azamgarh, Mau, Akbarpur, Chandrapur, Wani, Pen, etc.
One match is equivalent to twenty coaching sessions, was how he emphasized the importance of match situation. “There is too much of coaching in our sub continent Sir”, he would say, “let us get the players to play more matches, children learn more from matches…”.
A few years back, his cousin Hanumant Singh, also a World Cricket Academy’s elite coach had passed away. And now Raj Singh too has joined him in the Elysian Fields. May his soul rest in peace. All of us at the World Cricket Academy pay a heartfelt homage to the cricket legend.
posted by Toby Briggs - WCA @ 10:20 PM
