BCCI function to mark silver jubilee of World Cup win

The BCCI will hold a felicitation function in New Delhi to mark the silver jubilee of India's triumph in the 1983 World Cup. Kapil Dev - the captain of the victorious side - who is now chairman of the unofficial Indian Cricket League's (ICL) executive board, will also be invited, board president Sharad Pawar told PTI.

"The felicitation function for the members of the 1983 World Cup winning team will be held at Taj Palace in New Delhi on June 22," Pawar said. "Yes, Kapil Dev will be invited to attend it as he was the captain." On June 25, 1983, India had pulled off an improbable win over two-time defending champions West Indies at Lord's.

Earlier, PR Man Singh, the manager of India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad, had criticised the BCCI for not organising a function to honour the players. He called its reluctance to felicitate players who have joined the ICL a 'clash of egos'. Besides Kapil, three other players - Balwinder Sandhu, Sandeep Patil and Madan Lal - have joined the ICL.

The players of the 1983 team will also be invited for private celebrations conducted by the Professional Management Group, a firm run by Sunil Gavaskar, who was also a member of the squad. Kapil, however, had told an Indian newspaper that the board wouldn't be welcome for the extensive celebrations. All squad members will be involved in four six-a-side matches across India in June, before a dinner function in Dubai on June 19 followed by the big party at the Long Room at Lord's on the 25th.