Lalit Modi Blames BCCI President for Kochi IPL Franchisee Termination

In an opportunity to once again rake up the issue that cost him his job, Lalit Modi was at it once more, this time asking accountability of the BCCI over the Kochi IPL franchisee termination which he estimates will cost the IPL some Rs.2000 crores in losses.

Lalit Modi

It would be fair to recall that the former IPL chairman and commissioner got into a war of words with then Congress MP, Shashi Taroor, over the shareholding pattern in the Kochi franchisee, bought by Rendezvous Sports. With the muck having reached Parliament and the financial irregularities becoming a greater concern in the course of the IPL 3 season as a result of the battles, Modi has since fled to London to avoid the Enforcement Directorate under the case that there is a threat to his life. That he was also suspended and therefore, removed from the post would have greatly hurt the flamboyant promoter of the IPL whose ambitions to take it forward really knew no limits.

Now as he stays away from the country, he cannot help but get involved in the matters that involve the IPL and the BCCI. Having being slapped with corruption charges and criminal charges and accused of having received personal kickbacks, Modi has taken the issue of the BCCI terminating the Kochi Tuskers Kerala as an opportunity to make a case for himself while also, taking on his old nemesis.

This is what he posted on his Twitter page:

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Modi is certainly coming across as if making a case for vindication for himself that he was right in pointing out the problems in the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchisee from the beginning and that the BCCI’s late decision after Kochi played the one IPL 4 season is going to cost the BCCI a hefty sum as a result of the financial repercussions of the discussions.

The BCCI had famously blamed Modi for the IPL mess and now it seems Modi is almost feeling victorious by questioning the role of both, the outgoing president, Shashank Manohar, who announced the axing of Modi, and also, N. Srinivasan, the present BCCI President, against whom Modi has had long standing issues.

While the BCCI will deal with a possible court case by the Kochi franchisee, Modi’s association has also attracted financial scrutiny for the BCCI and although the BCCI had effectively terminated the Kings XI Punjab and the Rajasthan Royals for reportedly having links to Modi’s family by way of shareholding, stay orders from the court allowed both teams to play in the IPL 4 season. Now Modi feels the problems with Kochi that led to the franchisee’s termination is the BCCI’s lack of decision making that is going to cost the IPL financially.

Although Modi may be driving home a point, the financial ramifications would have been something the BCCI would have deliberated upon before arriving at the decision and knowing the BCCI, it would not be hard to see them turning what Modi describes to be deep losses into a more profitable situation if they can manage to beat the loopholes that the Kochi franchisee lawyers may pick.