JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) — Affluent former South Africa Cricket administrator Ali Bacher has paid tribute to the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, praising him as the “ultimate Bengal tiger” and a “smart businessman”.

Bacher, who served as managing director of South Africa Cricket and played an instrumental role in leading the country’s re-admission into international cricket, said Dalmiya had used his sharp business acumen to transform India into the financial powerhouses they had become.

Dalmiya, the Indian Cricket Board president, died last Sunday night after being admitted to hospital three days prior complaining of chest pains.

“I was very close to him in the early 1990s. I never met anybody who was so persistent in getting other administrators to support his point of view,” Bacher was quoted as saying.

“He was a smart businessman and he was the start of creating an India as the financial powerhouse of world cricket it is now. He never understood the word no. He was the ultimate Bengal tiger.

“In the early part of 1991, we must have spoken 25 times and had developed a good relationship. He had received support in the BCCI to propose South Africa’s return at the scheduled June meeting.”

Since Dalmiya’s death, tributes have poured in from around the globe from administrators of the game, including from West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron.

He has been labelled a visionary and credited with helping to expand cricket as a global force.

Bacher, a former Test captain, said Dalmiya’s use of media rights and sponsorship to make Indian cricket wealthy would remain his legacy.

“In November, 1991, we were in Kolkata for the first game and I asked Dalmiya who would be televising the games. He advised me it was the state broadcaster, Doordarshan, and that the BCCI would receive no payment,” Bacher said.

“I then offered him a quarter of a million rand to ensure the games would be broadcast in South Africa for this historic tour.

“Dalmiya’s eyes lit up and he saw for the first time the possible financial television fees. That was the start of Dalmiya in the 1990s using the cricket market extensively to accrue huge television and sponsorship income for the benefit of Indian cricket. That is his legacy.”

Dalmiya was cremated on Monday.