Beleaguered Lalit Modi appears to have lost the backing of BCCI heavyweight Sarad Pawar and may be out as IPL commissioner when the Governing Council meets in Mumbai on April 26.
Amid mounting pressure from detractors within and outside BCCI to ease him out, indications emerged that Modi may have to quit the post as members are likely to ask him to voluntarily give up the position given the raging controversy that now surrounds the financing of the hugely popular league.
Modi, who is at the centre of a storm following his comments on Kochi franchise that cost the job of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, however, put up a brave face parrying demands for his resignation.
After crucial discussions with Finance Minister, Pranad Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram, BCCI heavy weight Sharad Pawar today called incumbent president Shashank Manohar and discussed the current IPL mess in the wake of allegations and counter-allegations regarding the funding of the hugely popular cash-rich event and the bidding process.
"Our (BCCI) total approach in the Governing Council will be they will take collective, unanimous decisions, and give future direction to Indian cricket," Pawar told reporters after Manohar flew in from Nagpur and discussed the "entire IPL situation".
Asked whether Modi would accept the Governing Council decision, he said, "Don't forget Mr Modi is also a vice president of the BCCI and our total approach and past experience, we always take collective and unanimous decision where everyone is party to, including Lalit Modi."
Pawar said Manohar suggested that Modi should call the Governing Council meeting on April 26 and that he was confident of BCCI President giving leadership to Indian cricket.
Manohar later had a meeting with Media and Finance Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla and DDCA President and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely to discuss the issue.
Manohar, who was handpicked by Pawar to succeed him as BCCI President, are believed to have agreed that Modi should make his exit in the current situation when the whole IPL's financial base has come under attack along with his style of functioning.
A top BCCI source indicated that Modi would be asked to step down from the post at the Council meeting in Mumbai and Pawar has also given his consent to the move.
"It will be in the best interest of the IPL and the BCCI that he steps down from the post. But if he does not do so, the Governing Council may be forced to pass a resolution against him to remove him," the source said. PTI
There is near unanimity within the Board that Modi has to go. He has no choice now. It is the only logical conclusion," the source said.
The BCCI top brass feels that Modi's position has become untenable following the series of allegations levelled against him and the "cleaning process" can start only after his removal.
The BCCI is keen to sort out the issue as quickly as possible but much more depend on what stand Modi takes and how he defends himself.
"If Modi decides to fight it out, the matter then could be dragged to the Special General Body Meeting where it would come up for voting," the source said.
There was also a proposal within the BCCI to set up a committee to probe Modi's alleged financial irregularities but some members are in favour since the government has already decided to go into all aspects of the IPL.
However, Modi, who returned from an ICC meeting in Dubai, put up a brave face and ignored questions about his stepping down from the IPL Commissioner's post.
"I think all of you have the same question. On April 26, we have the Governing Council. We will meet there and discuss all these allegations that are coming out," Modi told reporters who asked him about the possibility of his exit from the post.
"There is no point discussing it. BCCI president Shashank Manohar and Sharad Pawar had already met this morning. They are all united in the same area. Decision will be taken unanimously by the Governing Council," he said.
"I will present all the facts against all the allegations. There is nothing to worry about and we will carry on," the beleaguered administrator added. PTI
