The ICL, started by Subhash Chandra's Essel Group, functioned between 2007 and 2009 before folding up.
Lalit Modi has admitted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) employed unfair tactics to sabotage the Indian Cricket League (ICL). In a series of disclosures on Twitter, Modi revealed that the Indian board even forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to change its constitution to outlaw the league.
The former IPL supremo, once an integral part of the BCCI setup that tried to suppress the Twenty20 tournament, confessed that the Board was worried about the clout of Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra. “Yes, we were afraid of Subhash Chandra’s clout in media and ability to take over the world of cricket.
Internally, we knew he would do a better job,” Modi said in a post.
Admitting to being part of the BCCI effort to stall the ICL, Modi said that the BCCI tried to arm-twist the ICC and its affiliate members.
“Yes I was part of the BCCI and ICC when these decisions were taken. The ICC set up a three-member committee with me, Giles Clarke, president ECB, and Norman Arendse, president CSA, to draft the new constitution. BCCI called every member of the ICC to ensure that they all help in changing the ICC constitution to outlaw the ICL,” Modi disclosed.
He added that a UK-based legal firm was employed to scuttle the league. “The ICC used Bird and Bird, a UK-based law firm, to ensure regulations to stop ICL. The three-member team worked with them. We drafted the same and then BCCI ensured it was approved and implemented with lightening speed,” he said.
In another stunning revelation, Modi disclosed that the Champions League Twenty20 was used as an inducement. “The BCCI used Champions League to induce other ICC members to vote on the resolution to outlaw ICL. That way they get part of the earnings. England resisted and thus lost the right to be a shareholder.
“Eventually, they capitulated as the money was too big to ignore,” Modi wrote.
Revealing the board’s modus operandi to suppress the league, Modi wrote that there was a concerted effort and muscle-flexing to coax, cajole or coerce various units and people. Advertisers were told that they would be barred by the Board if they associated with the ICL. Players were threatened with being blacklisted. Cricket associations were told not to give their grounds or fear losing matches. Even commentators were not spared. They were told to disassociate with the ICL. “BCCI even went to the extent of blacklisting suppliers like TV production companies and event managers who worked with ICL,” Modi said.
He had no qualms in admitting that the contract with Zee Sports was “unfairly” terminated. Zee Sports held the rights of the India’s overseas matches. “BCCI even terminated Zee Sports contract unfairly as they had launched ICL.”
According to Modi, the last straw was the amnesty scheme for players “so that they would desert ICL and join IPL.”
Modi admitted to having systematically used the BCCI power to suppress the league but defended his actions. “Yes I was part of the BCCI when we scuttled ICL. That was the mandate of the organisation. It was not my personal agenda.”
Modi has promised to post all relevant documents about BCCI stalling ICL on his website in a few days.
BCCI officials were not willing to comment on Modi’s revelations.
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