Tuesday, February 7, 2012

2009 IPL auction were rigged, claims Lalit Modi

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi claimed Tuesday that Lalit Modi to actress Preety Zinta during her reign as Chairman2009 IPL players' auction was "manipulated" to benefit the Chennai Super Kings franchise owned by Cement India, which is directed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan.
Modi, the IPL was creators, said the rules were bent to allow the former All-England Andrew Flintoff remains with the Super Kings. He also accepted his guilt of not going against the changes that favored selected teams.

"The auction was rigged Flintoff. All players should return to the auction after the first three years, but it did not. I was arm-twisted into allowing Flintoff to stay with the team from Chennai," said Modi, who was suspended by BCCI after the edition of 2010 and has since lived in London.

Four players from each franchise marquee were allowed to be retained after the end of the third edition, 2010. Modi said the restraint clause was not his idea.

"The clause of retention was not my idea. I had created a level playing field," he said.

Modi said that the current rules favor "some powerful members of the BCCI" who hold a stake in IPL teams.

"The rules were changed to favor some powerful members of the BCCI. If you adjust the model along the path that will fail. There is no level playing field in today's IPL. There is a lack of transparency now. Many wanted to be part of the game after it became a success, "he said.

Modi claimed that he wanted Pakistani cricketers to play in IPL after the first edition, but all franchises "were told not to bid for them at auction." In the game played Pakistan in IPL Highlights from the 2008 edition.

Read also: Sahara opened in the IPL, but not in the Indian team sponsorship

Commenting on the Sahara India ending its sponsorship contract with the BCCI and removed from the IPL, Modi said that the current model will not work since it favors some teams and not players.

"This model will not work. You have to keep the players in mind. There are things that are being made by the BCCI in the long run will hurt Indian cricket."

Modi had tweeted: "termination Sahara - shows how unhappy the major sponsor and owner of the franchise business is with the way BCCI with its partners This is really a sad day Sahara was the biggest supporter of sports and pillar ..."

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