New Delhi. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is considered to be the richest cricket board in the world. The BCCI organizes the world's most expensive cricket league. The Indian cricket team won the trophy by defeating South Africa in the recently held ICC T20 World Cup. The fans' 17-year wait is over. A prize money of Rs 125 crore was announced by the board. But do you know that there was a time when the board did not have money to reward the team that won the World Cup, then the great Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar arranged for it.
Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Ji, famously known as 'Bharat Kokila', is no longer in this world but she is always alive in our hearts. Lata Ji, who was called as Didi, loved cricket very much. Her love for this game was so much that when the Indian team won the World Cup for the first time in 1983 under the captaincy of Kapil Dev and the BCCI did not have money, she collected the prize money by organizing a free concert.
Lata ji gave a free concert
It was the year 1983 when the Indian team won the title by defeating two-time world champion West Indies. Kapil Dev's team achieved a historic victory but the BCCI did not have money to reward the players. At that time the board was headed by NKP Salve and he sought help from Lata Mangeshkar. Without thinking, this great singer organized a concert in Delhi. Rs 20 lakh was collected from this concert and the BCCI rewarded the players of the World Cup winning team with Rs 1 lakh each.
Lifetime reserved seats in every stadium
To express gratitude to Lata Ji for coming forward and performing a concert without charging any fees during difficult times, the BCCI made a special resolution. The board decided that as long as she is alive, a seat will be reserved for her to watch the match in every stadium in India. This great singer passed away on 6 February 2022 at the age of 92. The board will always remember her contribution.
first published : July 2, 2024, 8:42 pm IST
