Suspended IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on Saturday ridiculed the BCCI’s second show cause notice for allegedly planning a ‘rebel’ Twenty20 league in England, saying it has become a part of life for him to be treated as “public enemy number one” by the Board.
“It’s a part of life. I have been public enemy number one for the BCCI for a long time now,” Mr. Modi said when asked for his reaction to the notice issued to him a couple of days ago.
“I won’t react to it. The world has reacted to it on the basis of which the notice has been served. I still have 15 days to respond to it. We all know what it is,” he told reporters at the airport.
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In the capital to consult his lawyers for a reply to the first show cause notice issued to him for alleged bid-rigging and murky financial deals in the IPL, Mr. Modi said he would personally hand over his response to the accusations on Monday.
“I have just come to wrap up my reply to the show cause that I have to submit on Monday. I am going to reply personally because there is nothing to hide,” he said.
The IPL’s former boss’ fall has been sensational but he tried to put a brave face in front of the media and said, “I have not gone anywhere. I have only been suspended and that’s about it.”
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Asked if the IPL would suffer due to his suspension, Mr. Modi said the league’s structure was strong enough to weather the current storm.
“We have built a strong organisation. I don’t think the IPL will suffer. I think we have enough competent people to run the organisation.
“It’s a very strong brand. It’s important to understand that IPL is a global brand and hopefully we will be able to prove it. Everybody is behind me,” he said.
Mr. Modi is facing allegations of financial wrongdoings and favouring friends and family in the IPL’s bidding process.
His problems have only compounded after it was alleged that he was in talks with English counties to start a parallel Twenty20 league without the knowledge of the England and Wales Cricket Board and the IPL Governing Council.