Indian Premier League instigator Lalit Modi has admitted for the first time his involvement in a plot to overthrow world cricket’s establishment, according to the ABC.
The ABC quoted Modi as saying the organisation’s plan to recruit the world’s leading cricketers including Australian batsman David Warner has his endorsement.
The ABC’s Four Corners program will later on Monday screen an interview with Modi, who told the program: “We’re talking about another cricketing system.
“There is a blueprint out there, it has got my rubber stamp on it.
“I have been involved in it. I say it for the first time, I’ve been involved in putting that (blueprint) together.”
Modi was quoted as saying the plan to take on cricket’s establishment would cost several billion dollars but “I don’t think it would be a problem to get that … into action”.
“The plan that I have put together is a very detailed plan,” Modi said.
“It’s not a plan that’s come off the cuff, it has been taking years and years and years in the making.”
Modi had previously denied any involvement with the rebel organisation, which plans a new body to replace the International Cricket Council.
Leading Australian batsmen such as newly-retired Australian captain Michael Clarke and opening batsman Warner were targets of the new entity and could be offered as much as $50 million to sign up, according to newspaper reports in June.
In a radio interview, Warner said any such offer would be tempting.
“You can’t rule it out, you can’t say no, because … we love playing the sport we do but we also love getting paid for what we do,” Warner told Sky Sports Radio in June.
“I’m just being honest in saying it’s not out of the question, and I’d certainly have to think about it.”
Modi was fired from his job as IPL commissioner in 2010 and has been dogged by allegations of misconduct ever since.
In 2013 he was banned for life from playing any role in cricket administration by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Last week a warrant for his arrest was issued by a court in Mumbai at the request of India’s economic intelligence agency, the Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating allegations of money laundering linked to a lucrative television deal.
Modi has not been charged and denied all allegations against him.
Warnie's Mum
Guest
Unfortunately it doesn't seem like India's threat to withdraw from the ICC was a bluff. Only when the BCCI's dominance in India is challenged by another group with equally deep pockets can the governance of cricket change or even hope to be moderated by those of us on the outside. But either way cricket politics is all about India.
Arthur Pagonis
Roar Guru
Dear Reader. People who love Cricket in this country and around the world love to see it grow. They love the 3 forms of the game. They want to see Cricket played anywhere…India, Australia, England…China, Russia, Europe, the Americas…anywhere! That is not possible under the current regimes of cricket. And the Political World and the Heads of Business and Media in this country and those of all cricketing nations, all 100 of them, cannot turn their heads and fail to act upon the corruption and collusion of Cricket Australia, the BCCI of India, the ECB of England and the body known as the ICC, the International Cricket Council. The 4 sultans of cricket have effectively bowed to India’s financial powers. India’s threat to withdraw from the ICC is a poker bluff, played by a man who knows all about gambling. Nara Srinivasan has bought Cricket Australia and the ECB into an unholy mess. The BCCI has the power of a billion people. But there are 2.5 billion people who follow cricket worldwide, according to ESPN’s ICC Cricket World Programme. There are 100 countries currently playing Cricket. 3 of them hold the power of the future of cricket in their money grabbing hands. This is completely wrong and a stain on the great game. Governments who turn blind eyes to the scandal and corruption are complicit by inaction! Business and Media organisations who fail to act are also complicit by association with the scandal and corruption. Money cannot be all there is to this sordid picture. Cricket may be a business. It may be a sport. It may be the love of 2.5 billion people. But it is not a Merchant Bank for 3 National Cricket Bodies. And Cricket in India, England and Australia should not be financially assisted with grants and subsidies when these scandals are hanging over their heads. Cricket in Australia, India, England and the ICC must be run by people who show character, class, foresight, business acumen and the ability to bring the whole world of cricket into an Independent and Inclusive body under the control of an Independent Commission of highly regarded judiciary, business leaders and the like. This, unfortunately, is not the case currently. There is no room for debate here. Governments, Media and Business entities have the power to speak to the ICC, ECB, CA and BCCI. If they fail to do so, they will feel the wrath of Cricket Lovers world wide. So arrogant is the pressure from the 4 bodies mentioned upon smaller Member Nations of the ICC, and the Provincial/State/County boards in each of the 3 countries that there has developed a “Cricket Cone of Silence”. Like many of these scandals, the instigators rely on the silence of the lambs under their control. Ex-players and greats of the game know exactly where the fault lies. They are not fools! The current ECB, BCCI and CA and ICC administrators and boards are totally aware of this situation, and speak about it openly between one another. Some of them are deluded by the volumes of cash flowing into the bank accounts of the 4 bodies, and they are reluctant to go to the media. They think making money makes it right! Mr Srinivasan has run an iron clad monopoly of the running of the game illegally and against the good principles of the original ICC Charter. Several of the Board Members and administrators, CEO’s etc with consciences, have expressed disgust at the money grab at the expense of the game worldwide. While the ICC is run this way, Cricket as a clean and attractive sporting recreation and business is seriously wounded. I urge you all to act now to restore the great game of cricket to a truly independently run sport with regard for every nation who wishes to play the game. Cricket’s gambling and financial corruption has shocked world sport as much as the IOC and FIFA’s financial misdealing and inbred corruption. Cricket is clean as far as we know as regards drug and alcohol mass-abuse, and that is a saving grace. But nothing will save Cricket from worldwide exposure unless Governments, Media and Business act to clean the cancer of money grabbing by the ICC, ECB, BCCI and CA , now! Yours sincerely, a lover of the great game of Cricket.
Warnie's Mum
Guest
I saw the 4 corners doco tonight, which reminded me that I wrote last year that another body from outside the current cricket power structure will come along and challenge the ICC/BCCI. If India is currently generating 75-80% of cricket's revenue, you only have to see the future GDP estimates for the next couple of decades to see that India will even more than now completely dwarf the combined financial contribution of the rest of the cricket world. Thats a huge honey pot that will attract other big players with the financial muscle to take on the ICC/BCCI. So hold on tight the ride is going to get even more bumpy. PS: Has anyone heard from my son, he's not answering his phone? Maybe his credit has run out. I keep telling him to get a bigger plan.
Nick Nack
Guest
How can you organise a breakaway cricket tournament and at the same time be on the wanted list? Maybe this Modi chap intends to run this cricket circus from inside an Indian jail cell? If your a player, make sure you get the money paid up front, he has form on non payments.
josh
Roar Rookie
Well there;s a ringing endorsement.... Who would sign up this shambolic organisation?