Sports
The former IPL Chairman had a unique suggestion for the BCCI.
Updated : Sep 30, 2017, 05:08 AM IST
Lalit Modi likes to rile up things from time to time. The man who was instrumental in setting up the IPL in 2008 and turning it into one of the premier cricketing tournaments in the world, has made India the kings in the cricketing world.
While Modi was banned by the BCCI in 2013 and is currently in exile in London, he likes to stir the pot from time to time. On Friday, the day of the IPL opening ceremony, the former BCCI vice-president took to social media sites to ask his former organisation to help out needy farmers. He wrote in an Instagram post: “IPL should donate its 1000 crore plus profit for this Year to help victims of drought. This is the need of the hour. @iplt20 needs a much needed change of image as do mandarins in @bcci.tv #IPLbats4people.”
Farmers need help in Maharashtra. @BCCI will make 1000cr profit from #IPL2016 @BoriaMajumdar @vijaymirror @gs_vivek pic.twitter.com/axoOI8H22r
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 8, 2016
Let's make this #IPL special. Let's give to the drought victims. @sardesairajdeep @cricketwallah #IPL4DroughtVictims pic.twitter.com/f63TGK4OI4
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 8, 2016
1/2 I would launch this season "IPL 4 drought" and give its revenue to help drought affected people. That will help https://t.co/ucfXC17Ddm
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 8, 2016
2/2 @BCCI @IPL need 2 change its image.They should give the profit 4 this year around 1000 crores to drought victims pic.twitter.com/WidqZf4Tre
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 8, 2016
@LalitKModi I still think you are the only one who has the talent and brain to do run #IPL2016 it ain't easy we admire you
— Divya Pillai (@maddiya) April 8, 2016
@LalitKModi great thought, when will the Legends of Indian cricket speak up?
— Rohit Naargolkar (@RohitNaargolkar) April 8, 2016
@OfficialBCCI could restore its moral compass by helping drought relief through IPL. @ShuklaRajiv and @anuragthakur need to show the way!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 8, 2016
IPL Chairman promises to help farmers
Earlier, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said they are committed to the welfare of the farmers and will do whatever is suggested to them. Responding to a PIL which wants all the IPL matches to be moved out of Maharashtra, a state facing acute water shortage, the Bombay High Court had given a go-ahead to at least to the tournament opener.
Speaking at the opening ceremony for the ninth edition of the hugely-popular league, Shukla said, "The IPL and BCCI are committed to the welfare of the farmers. We will do whatever is suggested to us. We will co-operate with whatever is told to us." Three cities in the state -- Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur -- are scheduled to host 19 matches in total this edition.
Shukla further said the perception of IPL being an entertainment show was wrong. "Whatever people may see, I still believe that IPL is serious cricket. It's not just entertainment. Most of the games finish in the last over. Lot many budding talent are discovered by IPL, the world has seen that. This edition will be a better one than the previous editions. IPL is growing every year," he avowed.
The IPL Chairman also said they have made conscious efforts to involve fans in the game by introducing a new feature in which the fans will be given placard to express their views on certain decisions referred to the third umpire. We wonder how he'd take Lalit Modi's suggestion?
With inputs from agencies