The most expensive cricket board in the whole world is the Indian Cricket Board in today’s time. But the BCCI was not always expensive and powerful, but the England board had its own dominance in cricket around the world. The work of ending this supremacy of England was done by NKP Salve, who was the Chairman of BCCI in 1983.
If the then BCCI chairman NKP Salve had got two tickets for the 1983 finals, the Asia Cup would not have started. This thing may be shocking to you but it is true. The Asia Cup began in 1984 and now the 17th season is to be played for the tournament. But in 1983, the England Board, with the chairman of the BCCI, became the biggest reason for the start of the Asia Cup. The tournament is the only non -ICC multinational tournament in the world.
Let me tell you that the then BCCI president NKP Salve was behind the introduction of the Asia Cup, who decided to end the dominance of the England Cricket Board. In fact, it happened that BCCI Chairman NKP had asked for two additional ticks from ECB for the final of the World Cup 1983. ECB did not fulfill his demand. Asian cricket did not have that much power at that time. The three World Cups were also held in England but NKP Salve not only dropped the World Cup from England but also laid the foundation of the Asia Cup.
However, there are different theory about this, stating that, NKP did not get an entry in Lord’s, London during the World Cup 1983 final. But the truth is that they then hollowed out the roots of England Cricket Board. NKP Salve formed a Cricket Council in association with Pakistan cricket and including other cricket playing countries, named the Asian Cricket Council. Earlier, Chairman was NKP Salve. Its union was the main objective to expand cricket in Asia.
On 19 September 1983, BCCI Chairman NKP Salve, PCB Chairman Noor Khan and Cricket Sri Lanka Chairman Gamini Disanayake together formed the Cricket Conference in Delhi’s Asian Cricket. But the issue was to organize the Asia Cup and India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka did not have money and stadium for such a big event.
In such a situation, the ACC along with the UAE government went ahead and held the first Asia Cup in Sharjah in 1984. That year India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the Asia Cup. India won the title. Later other teams also joined ACC. Now this tournament is with 8 teams. Members of the Asian Cricket Council are now 30 countries in Asia.
The NKP did not stop here, he decided to organize the World Cup out of England. Asia could also host big matches, he was confident of that. The solidarity of Asian cricket showed the world that the game should be expanded. This is the reason that the ICC office was earlier in Lord’s, which is now in Dubai. Even the next edition of the World Cup was hosted by India and Pakistan.