BCCI vows to keep defiant Modi out
Disgraced IPL founder contests Rajasthan cricket president’s post.
Disgraced IPL founder contests Rajasthan cricket president’s post. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
NEW DELHI:
India’s cricket chiefs on Saturday vowed to enforce a life-long ban on Lalit Modi after the disgraced Indian Premier League (IPL) founder contested elections for a state association in absentia.
Modi, who lives in London with his passport revoked by the Indian government on corruption charges, had contested for the post of president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) on December 19.
Results for the Supreme Court-monitored elections will be declared by the apex court on January 6, but the Modi faction has already claimed support of 25 of the 33 district units in the state.
The elections had angered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which in September had banned Modi for life from holding any cricket post after finding him guilty of ‘serious’ acts of indiscipline and misconduct.
An emergency meeting of the BCCI’s powerful working committee on Saturday termed the RCA as a ‘delinquent’ member and voted to keep Modi out of cricket administration.
“It was noted that Lalit Modi had contested for the post of president in the elections of the Rajasthan Cricket Association notwithstanding his expulsion,” the BCCI said in a statement after the meeting.
“Subject to the decision of the Supreme Court, strict disciplinary action should be taken against the delinquent member while protecting the interest of the game in the state of Rajasthan.”
The BCCI had earlier warned the state association that it could be suspended from sending teams for official domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and age-group events.
The RCA defended the elections saying they were conducted as per the instructions of the Supreme Court which had allowed Modi to contest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2013.
India’s cricket chiefs on Saturday vowed to enforce a life-long ban on Lalit Modi after the disgraced Indian Premier League (IPL) founder contested elections for a state association in absentia.
Modi, who lives in London with his passport revoked by the Indian government on corruption charges, had contested for the post of president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) on December 19.
Results for the Supreme Court-monitored elections will be declared by the apex court on January 6, but the Modi faction has already claimed support of 25 of the 33 district units in the state.
The elections had angered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which in September had banned Modi for life from holding any cricket post after finding him guilty of ‘serious’ acts of indiscipline and misconduct.
An emergency meeting of the BCCI’s powerful working committee on Saturday termed the RCA as a ‘delinquent’ member and voted to keep Modi out of cricket administration.
“It was noted that Lalit Modi had contested for the post of president in the elections of the Rajasthan Cricket Association notwithstanding his expulsion,” the BCCI said in a statement after the meeting.
“Subject to the decision of the Supreme Court, strict disciplinary action should be taken against the delinquent member while protecting the interest of the game in the state of Rajasthan.”
The BCCI had earlier warned the state association that it could be suspended from sending teams for official domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and age-group events.
The RCA defended the elections saying they were conducted as per the instructions of the Supreme Court which had allowed Modi to contest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2013.