IPL Chief Modi suspended

LONDON: Indian Premier League supremo Lalit Modi was suspended on Sunday as the controversy over allegations of corruption swirling around the money-spinning tournament took another dramatic twist, it was reported here.

The decision by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) was taken just hours before an emergency meeting was due to take place in Mumbai to discuss allegations that include unsubstantiated media reports of match-fixing in the tournament.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar waited until the end of the IPL final on Sunday to announce Modi's suspension. "The alleged acts of individual misdemeanours of Mr Lalit K Modi, chairman IPL and vice president BCCI, have brought a bad name to the administration of cricket and the game itself," said a statement carried by the BBC here.

"I have waited for IPL 2010 to conclude in order to respond to the situation as I did not want the event to be disrupted in any manner." Immediately after the conclusion of the IPL final, the secretary, BCCI Mr N Srinivasan has in consultation with me issued a show cause notice to Mr. Lalit K Modi under Rule 32 (iv) calling upon him to show cause within 15 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

"Simultaneously, in exercise of the powers vested in me under Rule 32 (vii), I have suspended Mr. Lalit K Modi from participating in the affairs of the Board, the IPL, the working committee and any other committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India."