The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will take a final decision on Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi's association with the tournament only on April 26.
The third edition of the IPL concludes in Mumbai on April 25 and the BCCI has called a meeting of the IPL general council to decide on Mr. Modi's fate.
“No decision has been taken on Lalit Modi. It is only speculation. We can only come to a decision after the governing council of the IPL meets on April 26,” said Union Minister Sharad Pawar after a meeting with BCCI president Shashank Manohar at his residence here on Tuesday.
Mr. Pawar, a former BCCI president and the next president of the International Cricket Council, said: “We are not vested with the authority to take a decision on our own. The governing council will not interfere with the basic rights of all members.”
The meeting was prompted by reports that the BCCI was under pressure to take notice of the allegations made against Mr. Modi in his role as IPL commissioner. As a senior BCCI member, Mr. Pawar is expected to play the leading role in tackling the issue. “Don't forget that Modi is a vice-president of the BCCI. We have to put together our experience before we come to a decision. We have always taken collective and unanimous decisions and that is what will happen in this case too,” Mr. Pawar said.
According to sources, the BCCI wants to give Mr. Modi the time and the platform to clarify his position. “We know allegations have been made [against Mr. Modi and IPL] but then we can't just go by what people have been saying. We would be the first to take action against anyone found guilty of any illegal activity. But the BCCI feels it would be fair to give Modi a chance to defend himself. If the charges against him are proved, the BCCI would not waste time in taking action against him,” said a senior BCCI member.
Wait for meet: Modi
PTI reports from Mumbai:
On his part, Mr. Modi, back from Dubai after attending a meeting of the ICC, parried questions about his resignation, saying the matter would be discussed and a unanimous decision taken at the governing council meeting on April 26.
“I think all of you have the same question. On April 26, we have the governing council. We will meet there and discuss all these allegations that are coming out,” Mr. Modi said.
“There is no point discussing it [his resignation]. Shashank Manohar and Sharad Pawar already met this [on Tuesday] morning. They are all united in the same area. Decision will be taken unanimously by the governing council,” he said. “I will present all the facts against all the allegations. There is nothing to worry about and we will carry on,” he added.
