BCCI sticks by Kochi, leaves Lalit Modi on sticky wicket

The world, according to Lalit Modi, has undergone a sea change in the last few days.

He may have Sharad Pawar’s blessings and support but, this time, even that may not help. From all indications, Modi’s wings are set to be clipped. Sources said  he will have to share the reins of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar.

The power-sharing arrangement, however, is still at a speculative stage, but sources said Manohar could be made co-chairman of the IPL.

“The IPL is a sub-committee of the BCCI. The president is the most powerful man and the secretary, N Srinivasan, who is virtually the CEO of the cricket board, is second in the power structure,” said a board official. Srinivasan, however, refused to comment on this arrangement.

The BCCI working committee is meeting on April 24, but any change in the power structure of a sub-committee has to have the approval of the general body as the change requires an amendment in the constitution.

At the time of going to press, there was no information on the convening of a special general meeting of the BCCI. Modi could not be reached for his reaction.    

What also indicates Modi’s lessened influence is that there is no threat to the Kochi franchise, despite his claims to sue them.

A top BCCI official categorically ruled out a revisit on the issue even as reports have surfaced that some members either wanted to pull out or relocate the franchise to Ahmedabad.

“We have signed an agreement with the Kochi team. We have to abide by the agreement in letter and spirit,” Srinivasan said. “They have won the bid fair and square and we will abide by it.”

Srinivasan’s assertion comes a day after Modi threatened to drag the Kochi team officials and on a day when former BCCI president Pawar disclosed that some key members of the Kochi consortium wanted the team to be based out of Ahmedabad.

“I cannot comment on Lalit’s plan to take them to court. As far the BCCI is concerned, there is a genuine agreement in place with the members of the consortium and that is final,” said the board official, who is known to be an arch-rival of Modi.

He, however, refused to comment on the impending governing council meeting and the likely action on the IPL chairman. “I will rather not comment on what is going to happen in the meeting. It will be a collective decision,” Srinivasan said.