Headlines
Lalit Modi planning rival body to overthrow world cricket establishment
Sydney, Aug 10
Former Indian administrator
Lalit Modi claims to be master-minding a complete overhaul of the world
cricket establishment by forming a rival governing body to the
International Cricket Council (ICC) to run the sport.
Modi has
claimed that the new body will be affiliated with the Olympic movement,
overseeing new Test and T20 competitions, and will scrap One-Day
Internationals (ODIs).
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is
presently chaired by India's nominee, ex-BCCI chief Narayanaswami
Srinivasan. Modi is regarded to be a rival of Srinivasan.
"We're
talking about another cricketing system. There is a blueprint out there,
it's got my rubber stamp on it," he was quoted as saying by abc.net.au
on Monday.
"I have been involved in it. I say it for the first
time, I've been involved in putting that (blue)print together. The plan
conceives only of Test cricket and T20; it doesn't take into account
one-day at all," he said.
"I think that is completely redundant
in today's day and age. I think it should just be T20 and Test matches
that should be played," he added.
Modi, a controversial figure,
is credited with the launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.
He now lives in virtual exile in England.
He also said that he has been involved in discussions for a long time to set up a new governing body for cricket.
"The
plan that I have put together is a very detailed plan. It's not a plan
that's come off the cuff... it's been taking years and years and years
in the making."
Modi was fired from his job as IPL commissioner
in 2010. In 2013 he was banned for life from playing any role in cricket
administration by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
He
is now being investigated for his alleged involvement in money
laundering. A warrant for his arrest was issued last week by a court in
Mumbai at the request of the Enforcement Directorate. Modi has denied
all the allegations against him.
Modi has been for long a critic
of ICC's and BCCI's mode of functioning and said he had it in him to
provide an alternative to world cricket's structure.
"We could
take on the existing establishment, no problem. It requires a few
billion dollars, I don't think it would be a problem to get that ...
into action. But it could be done," the 49-year-old said.
Modi told ABC that he doubted reports of wholesale reforms to be undertaken by the ICC for its smooth functioning.
"I hope that (blue)print doesn't take off," he said.
"But
if the people can't continue, then that print will take off and that
blueprint will become the world order tomorrow. I guarantee you that...
sitting here today."
Modi also said there would no hindrance to a
rival breakaway body being established as the ICC is run as a members'
club, and not a governing body.
He also doesn't see any problem in paying huge sums to marquee players for their association.
"There
was a report that ran on the front of The Australian newspaper that
said '$100 million pay cheque for two of your players'," he said.
"I
think that's an easy cheque to write; I just put it this way. I say,
that would be an easy cheque to write, and if that cheque is easy to
write then 'would I get the players or not' is a question you should ask
the players, not me."
Modi's revelation comes at a time when there are growing calls for T20 cricket to be played at the Olympics.