BCCI v/s Lalit Modi : Round Two!

So Lalit Modi, the former tainted commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) decides to return into the Indian cricket scene by contesting the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) polls. And what does the BCCI do then? Simple. It tries to make his return as difficult as possible by becoming a party in the Supreme Court case challenging the RCA polls and try and take a stand on this tricky issue.

Modi was allowed to fight for the post of RCA president in the December 19 elections held under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed observer. The results of the polls are expected to be known on January 6 when the matter relating to the RCA comes up for hearing before the Supreme Court.
The BCCI had on December 28 called an emergency meeting to deal with the same issue. During the Emergency Working Committee meeting, it was decided to intervene in the Special Leave Petition filed in the Supreme Court currently. “The Working Committee meeting of the BCCI was held today to decide the course of action to be followed to enforce the decision of the Members to expel Mr Lalit Modi. It was noted by the members that Lalit Modi had contested for the post of President in the elections of RCA notwithstanding his expulsion by BCCI,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a release. “The members decided that the BCCI must intervene in the SLP filed by Mr. Rungta in the Supreme Court challenging the Rajasthan Sports Act and get clarified the position of BCCI to enable the enforcement of its resolution passed on 25th September 2013 expelling Mr. Lalit Modi.” it said. The Board, however, made it clear that “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 has threated RCA to take away all rights and privileges if Modi is elected, which is mostly likely going to happen as there is speculation that he may win unopposed. BCCI elections are known to be influence by politicians and hence Modi stands a strong chance of winning. Modi is not one to throw in the towel without a fight and the RCA elections would be just a pedestal for him to take on Srinivasan and co. The question now is whether Srinivasan can tolerate the very man he ousted from the IPL? It’s going to be an interesting tussle for sure!