Modi opens the Pandora's box

Not a day passes without more mire surfacing from the IPL-BCCI quagmire. It seems Modi has thrown open the proverbial Pandora's box.Startling revelations about involvement of two UnionCabinet ministers and their close relatives,former Cricket captains,overseas funding through dubious deals,embezzlement by those at the helm in IPL,failed bid documents disappearing from files,match fixing,betting,threats from underworld,blasts engineered to shift venue of semi finals,circumventing rules to suit personal gains,IT & ED raids,disclosing private mails to reveal mudslinging,garnering support for council meet by opponents,awarding contracts to close relatives without bids,nonpayment of taxes,late night parties,Charges of kickback to Modi by MSM,defiant Modi challenging BCCI establishment,BCCI planning to oust Modi,Franchisees taking sides,conflict of interests in deals and what not.It has all the ingredients of a blockbuster masala Indian movie.

But several questions remain unanswered.It is really strange to note that the BCCI is registered as a society under the Tamilnadu Societies registration Act and is exempted from tax on grounds of promoting cricket.After IPL becoming a commercial venture why did the government continue this favour to BCCI?BCCI amended their rules and byelaws to suit those at the helm from time to time.How did the government turn a blind eye to it so long? To get past the conflict of interest clause BCCI amended its rules for the convenience of its members who were involved in IPL by stating that IPL,Champions League and T20 are exempted.How could a National team selector be part of an IPL franchisee? How could a BCCI member be an IPL team franchisee? Rules were circumvented by BCCI.All these were done obviously for the high stakes involved in IPL.Proprieties were thrown to the wind deliberatley.Every deal had an hidden agenda.

The cricket loving Indians were all taken for a ride by those in BCCI and IPL.Betting led corruption and match fixing allegations prove this.Still the gullible public throng the stadiums and others sit glued before their TV sets in their drawing rooms apparently not knowing the matches are fixed.This is akin to what Swami Nityananda did to his naive desciples. Swami is accused of cheating the public with deliberate intent.It holds good for BCCI and IPL.It seems the IPL is confined to an exclusive privileged group of the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. IPL has in fact become a league for some Privileged Indians. IPL has done two good things to Indian cricket. It has opened the doors to many Indian youngsters to showcase their talent.Enormous potential among uncapped young Indians will serve as a reservoir of Indian cricketing talent.The second thing is those talented youngsters not selected for National team got an opportunity to play with international greats and learn from their experience and also were rewarded financially with a good contract.Above all they have got an international exposure,since IPL has become a leading sporting event in the world in the shortest span.

But the on going affairs in IPL might soon see the end of a booming cricket business,by strict regulations and protocols coming in the wake of the current cisis. Lalit Modi's IPL is fashioned on the lines of Channel Nine Kerry Packers WSC series in Australia way back in 1977-79.Marketing was the key to the success of the WSC series of Kerry Packer.Theme songs,Logoscoloured jersies and a variety of merchandise were marketed by the WSC,for the first time in the history of cricket.WSC cricket pioneered night cricket, floodlights, coloured clothing, coloured balls, on-field microphones, multiple camera angles,and prototype helmets.The first nexus between cricket and commercialism was established by Kerry packer.It gave wealth to players, broadcasters and administrators.It had everything except an official recogonition.Finally WSC now finds a place among the defunct sports leagues of the world. But it did make an impact .Similarly IPL did make an impact for the last three years.But its future is fraught with uncertainity with all the controversies surrounding it.

IPL-Indian Preposterous League

Shashi Tharoor is out bowled by Lalit Modi.What remains to be seen is Will Lalit Modi last long to play another innings?.But right now he is on a sticky wicket.There is much more than what meets the eye.Modi had defenitly an ulterior motive when he tweeted about the ownership of the Kochi team franchisee.He had some scores to settle with Sashi Tharoor.Gabriella Demetriades the contestant for Miss IPL last year in South Africa wanted to visit India .It is widely believed Modi asked Tharoor to deny visa to her in January 2010 because Modi had a sour relationship with Gabriella.Tharoor refused to oblige Modi.With Kochi IPL bidding issue Modi found a good opportunity to settle scores with Tharoor.

Lalit Modi is the grand son of the great Industrialist Gujarmal Modi,the founder of Modi Nagar.Lalit is the President and MD of Modi Enterprises. Modi Care,Modi Threads,Godfrey Philips India,Modi Rubber,Fashion TV,Royal Airways,Indofil Chemicals,Modi Hoover,IIFA are some of the organisations that Modi and his family control.Modi came to fore in BCCI only in 2005.since 2008 he is in charge of the IPL,which is said to be the brain child of Modi.As early as 1992 when he was not in BCCI he had put forward a limited over cricket league idea to BCCI,while he was working with ESPN.But BCCI then rejected his proposals. It is believed from that point he worked to get a place in BCCI board.With this in mind he became the Rajasthan Association President and entered the BCCI.With his business acumen he increased the revenues of BCCI.During this period because of BCCI's financial power,BCCI started flexing its muscles even against ICC.Modi becoming the VP of the BCCI he wanted his dream cricket league idea to fructify.BCCI started IPL and Modi became the IPL commissioner for next 5 years.Suddenly Modi became all powerful in the cricket world.In the same year(2008) he was listed among India's 30 most powerful people by India Today. An international business magazine called 'Fast Company' rated IPL as the 22nd most innovative company in the world.

With in 3 years of inception skeletons from IPL cupboards have started tumbling.Now the IT department raids IPL office.Opposition creates ruckus in Parliament over IPL. A sitting minister resigns on charges of involvement in IPL bidding to favour a friend.There are allegations of Sweat equity being alloted unprecedently. Undisclosed partners among IPL franchisees give ample scope for laundering black money as alleged by opposition parties.Modi seems to be not above board.His relatives have been awarded mobile rights.His relatives are franchise partners in some teams.Now it is alleged Modi is involved in Match fixing and betting IPL matches through proxies.Modi has brushed aside these charges as absurd.Even during the last edition of IPL in South Africa former Pak Cricket Captain Javed Miandad said there is a defenite smell of match fixing in the IPL.He even suggested the ICC shold step in and hold IPL under its direct supervision.A suggestion worthy of consideration by ICC and BCCI.ICC has its own protocols and security systems.ICC's Anti corructpion and security Unit (ACSU) head has already warned as early as 2008 that IPL has great potential for betting led corruption.

Rightly or wrongly IPL has earned a brand name for itself and is considered a premier world sporting event.Let not betting,match fixing and corruption take IPL the sharjah way. Sharjah tournaments were stopped because of match fixing allegations. BCCI has to act tough now and put to rest all controversies related to IPL.All bidding processes should be transparent and BCCI should evolve protocols and guidelines to be followed in bidding,player transfers,commercial rights allotment and so on to save the IPL.