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Shane Warne believes the Indian Premier League will get “bigger and bigger” despite its architect Lalit Modi facing corruption charges. While reiterating that he had no knowledge of the “ins and outs behind the scenes” of the lucrative Twenty20 cricket tournament, he hoped the charges did not spell the end of the IPL.
Modi has sought more time to answer corruption charges that have sparked a government investigation into the IPL.
Modi was due to respond to the allegations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India which suspended Modi as head of the IPL two weeks ago pending its own probe into corruption, tax evasion and money-laundering.
Warne said the first he heard about the charges was after he flew out of India following his IPL team Rajasthan Royals being knocked out of this year’s competition in mid-April.
“As soon as we didn’t make the finals I left on a plane then saw all the reports,” Warne said in Brisbane on Tuesday.
“It’s obviously a difficult time for him (Modi) – it will be interesting to see what happens.
“He created the IPL, it was his baby, his vision to create the IPL which turned into over a $4 billion business in three years which is pretty special.
“It shows he knows what he is doing.
“All the ins and outs behind the scenes, I have absolutely no idea – I am sure in time it will all come out.”
Warne backed the IPL to survive, saying there was “nothing like it in the world”.
“Let’s hope it all works out, everything was above board going forward – I still think the IPL is a massive tournament,” he said.
“There’s nothing like it in the world where all the different countries play together.
“You learn off each other, you become friends with opposition players so it helps the spirit of the game.
“And it is great for young players to get over there and experience those conditions.
“I am sure it is going to get bigger and bigger .”
Meanwhile, Warne said he was unsure whether he would play another IPL season.
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