When Lata Mangeshkar Came To BCCI's Aid Post India's 1983 World Cup Win

When Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup at the Lord's balcony, the erstwhile BCCI president and one of the powerful ministers in the Indira Gandhi cabinet, late NKP Salve had a different worry. It was still some years to go for economic liberalization and an astute businessman like Jagmohan Dalmiya's foresight to turn cricket into an industry. Team India's achievement needed to be celebrated but the BCCI, which currently is looking at USD 5 billion television contract, barely paid its cricketers a daily allowance of 20 pounds.

Salve had to turn to his 'Man Friday' and Indian cricket's 'one stop Encyclopedia' Raj Singh Dungarpur for a solution to be able to reward the players for such an achievement.

'Raj bhai', as Dungarpur was known in Indian cricket circle, decided that the only way was to request his close friend and one of country's biggest cricket fans Lata Mangeshkar to do a pro-bono concert in the national capital's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The JLN was packed to capacity as 'Lata ji' did a near two hour programme.

The event ensured that BCCI collected enough money and each of the 14 members got Rs 1 lakh each as cash award.

"It was a very decent sum in those days. We would otherwise save up tour money and daily allowance for that month and it came to barely Rs 60,000," Sunil Valson recollected while speaking to PTI.

"I remember some people said we will give you Rs 5000, some said Rs 10,000 and it was very disrespectful at times. But then Lata ji sang in that concert. What a function it was and one of the most memorable evenings to watch her sing live," Valson said.

The BCCI and more so Dungarpur never forgot how 'Lata ji' saved Indian cricket from sheer embarrassment just because of her pristine love for the